Keep On Walkin' On

Truth be told, I don't know WHERE I'm goin' in life.  I mean, I have ideas where I'm AIMING to go, but where I'll ACTUALLY go only GOD knows.

All I know is I'm gon' keep on walkin' on!  And what I see, I see.  And what I create, I create.  And what will be, will be!!!!

And that's just FINE with ME!!!  :) 

Brother To Brother Part Deux

I've got only ONE, but I just happened to luck out and get pretty much the BEST ONE available!

Wait a minute, I think HE got the best one available!!!!!!  :)

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12 Years A Slave

Yesterday I went to Arclight Hollywood to see 12 Years A Slave.  Yes, the performances were terrific and the cinematography was first-rate...BUT...I wasn't moved to tears.  At one point, I found myself getting misty-eyed, but the ending didn't send me over the edge.  In fact, at another point in the film, I found myself fighting to keep my eyes open.  Overall, I'm happy to have seen it and recommend that others see it, too.  The brutal treatment of the slaves, of course, disturbed me beyond description.  I walked out of the theater asking two other patrons, "How can people be so cruel?"

One day soon, I'd love to have an answer to that question...

And a solution for never having a need to ask the question again.
  

It's A Family Affair

Chillin' with my nieces at Wood Ranch @ The Grove!

Gettin' ready to return my niece's weak serve! :)

The view from the court was AWESOME!

This time last weekend I was chillin' with my family in a rented house in Woodland Hills.  Truth be told, I wouldn't mind doin' the PRECISE, SAME THING at this very moment, too!  Honestly, kickin' it with 'em was a BLAST!  The HIGHLIGHT of my YEAR thus far!

FAMILY RULES!!!!!

OVERKILL

Jeff  "King Of Aesthetics" Seid

aes·thet·ics [es-thet-iks or, esp. British, ees-] noun ( used with a singular verb ) 1. the branch of philosophy dealing with such notions as the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, the comic, etc., as applicable to the fine arts, with a view to establishing the meaning and validity of critical judgments concerning works of art, and the principles underlying or justifying such judgments.

If I read ONE more word from FITNESS cats about "AESTHETICS..."

Even GOD has somethin' to say about the word's OVERUSE!!!!!

Only In L.A!!!

Patricia Carey

Jason Priestley

While walking home from the grocery store today, I think I saw two "stars."  Okay, maybe one of 'em is considered a star and the other is related to one.

I think I saw Patricia Carey, Mariah's mother, as I crossed the street on Vineland Ave.  Shortly thereafter I saw Jason Priestley on Bellflower Ave.  No, I don't suspect either would cause traffic to stop, but it was interesting seeing them nonetheless.

Second Time Around

Now that my PHENOMENAL FAMILY has gone, I have TONS of leftovers!  That's just fine with me, 'cause I love me some leftovers.  

What I DON'T love, though, is...

Wonderful Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend will go down in history as one of the MOST PHENOMENAL weekends of my life!!!!  Honestly, spending time with each and every one of my immediate family members was a joy BEYOND DESCRIPTION!  A stroll on The Santa Monica Pier and afterward, dinner at Seasons 22 Fresh Grill with my brother and his lovely wife, closed out the weekend festivities!

Although some aspects of my life aren't "up to snuff" in my book, the one thing that IS on point is the devotion from and for my immediate family.  They truly are SECOND to NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God bless 'em!

And God bless ME!  

Surprise! Surprise!! Surprise!!!

I've been awaiting this weekend for several weeks because my sister, Marguerite, told me she'd be here in L.A. for business.  Well, she did indeed arrive Thursday night as she told me she would.  She told me she was staying in a hotel in Woodland Hills.  Anyway, we arranged to meet at my apartment on Friday evening so we could go out for food & drinks.  She arrived to my place a little later than planned---traffic, of course.  She looked terrific.  Absolutely terrific.  It was the first time I had seen her in person with her head completely shaved like mine.  Well, I had planned for us to go to happy hour at Granville Cafe in Burbank.  She, however, wanted to go to Wood Ranch American Restaurant at The Grove.  I love the place, so Wood Ranch it was.  That's where things got mighty dang interesting.

As Marguerite and I walked into the restaurant she headed back to the outdoor section.  I thought that was strange since I had never sat back there before.  And I knew she hadn't.  Well, the moment she stepped inside the tented area back there I immediately noticed my sister-in-law, Terri, sitting at a table.  I was SHOCKED!  Although there were others at that table, I only zoomed in on her.  When I came back to the real world, I then noticed ALL my sisters, one of my nieces, my brother, my friend, Tyshawn, and his girlfriend.  I mean, I was ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED!!!!!!!!!  Honestly, I had never seen such BEAUTIFUL FACES in all my life!!!!!  When I spotted my sister, Cheryl, I just couldn't believe it.  She has never been out to visit me in any of the places I've lived.  But there she was right in front of me.  I went around the table and hugged each and every one of them.  I was truly SHOCKED!  By the time I hugged the last person, around the corner came ANOTHER niece!  WHAT!!!!!!  The night just COULDN'T get better, I thought!

It turns out everybody decided to come to L.A. to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday because they thought I wouldn't return back to Indiana in December so they could celebrate it there.  Truth is, I haven't purchased a ticket to go back in December.  And truer than that is: my family didn't need me to!  They took matters into their own hands and made MAGIC!!!  I have to confess that this AMAZING act of LOVE and COMPASSION blows me away!  Absolutely BLOWS ME AWAY!

I don't know what I've done to deserve such an amazing group of people to call family.  I just know I'm dang glad I've done it!  I'm scheduled to work on Saturday night, but God hasn't seen fit yet to have the work information sent to me, so, perhaps it'll be scrapped.  Whether it is or isn't, I'm heading over to the rental house they're staying in tomorrow morning and hangin' out with them until...well...until.  And I'm gonna have the BEST time possible, talking to each and every one of them!!!!!!!!!  

Last night was undoubtedly the HAPPIEST night of my entire 2013 thus far!!!!!

Miss Juanita & Mr. Charles, you did good!  

You sure as heck did good!!!!

The Chase

I don't chase it.  Never have.  But I'm beginning to believe I should probably move a lot quicker in its direction.  I mean, a brotha now has to have health insurance and eventually would like to own where he lives.

Is that asking for too much????

I Am That I Am That I Am

Leland B. Martin

I just received word today that my latest short film script has been accepted to be produced for a terrific web series titled, FRONT SEAT CHRONICLES.  When I read the creator/director's Facebook message to me, saying he liked the script, I have to admit, my heart skipped a beat.  Or two.  Or three.  It always makes a writer, or any artist who creates something, feel like a million bucks when his work is appreciated.  Truth be told, I want to submit this piece to film festivals and feel what it's like to be on the other end of the festivals instead of solely the moderator of the screenings.  I think I'd like that.  Well, we'll see.  I sent an e-mail to actor, Leland B. Martin, telling him that he's the person I had in mind to portray the male role.  It'll be interesting to see what he has to say about the script.  Hey, an artist has to accept that his work ain't for everybody.  Luckily for me, if he doesn't care to perform the role, there are only hundreds (actually thousands) of young cats in this town who could.  But, dangit, I want HIM!

I give gratitude to GOD for giving me the gifts of story and character.  I like stories about real people.  People I can know.  People I can learn from.  People I can love.  And people I can learn to love.  I'm looking forward to what will become of my script.  And I'm looking forward to completing the one I'm currently writing.  It's my goal this month to write a new short film script every week throughout October and November.  That will give me eight new scripts by the end of the year.  Now, that's sayin' somethin'!  I intend to write each script with someone I already know, or have previously met, in mind to portray one of the lead characters.

So let it be WRITTEN.  So let it be DONE!

UPDATE:  I've heard back from Leland about his thoughts on the script.  His exact words were:  "This particular role isn't for me."  I won't lie.  My first thought was to inquire why he wasn't feeling the material, but I feel pretty confident I know why.  Yes, it disappoints me, but, hey, I've already found another youngun to portray the role.  So, "Alexander #2", let's see what you can do!  :)

This Is My Truth

I believe the world would be soooo much KINDER if children were taught to strive for COMPASSION over MATERIAL POSSESSIONS.

It Is What It Muthablankin Is!

You might as well do what you WANNA do 'cause they gon' do what they gon' do! :)

Your Smiling Face

"No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today, whenever I see you smile at me." --- James Taylor

Queen B.

Sometimes I look at this cat and think, wow, he's pretty.  Then I think, wow, she's pretty.  Then I just think whatever gender he/she identifies with is fine by me.  All I know is with hair, heels and attitude, he/she's a FORCE OF NATURE!

Havin' the courage to live one's truth AIN'T for sissies!!!!!!

Rock ON, B. SCOTT!!!!!!

Never A Lender But A Borrower I Be :)

I don't own it, but I'm borrowing it this weekend and I LIKE it!

A lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :)  #Chrysler200

Batsh*t Crazy Over The Kitty

I'm not a fan of cats.  Nope.  No how.  No way.  However, this little black kitty is gonna be the cutest Halloween guest at somebody's house this year!  His costume is so simple, yet so BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!  :)

Rain Down

MELODIES from HEAVEN, rain down on ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!