All About New Year's Eve

Here it is New Year's Eve already.  I mean, there's literally less than 24 hours left in the year 2015.

What have I accomplished?

Truth be told, I have completed a few writing assignments and submitted them to various writing competitions.  None of my scripts succeeded to the finish line, though.

I was bumped up to Principal performer on not one, but two national commercials.

I was able to close out the year with a particular debt looking less and less ominous.

I was able to attend my very first 50th birthday celebration for a sibling.  Three others had passed without my presence.

No, romance didn't embrace me this year.  But I'm open to it whenever it decides to sneak up on me and wrap its loving arms around me.  I love a great hug.

I feel good to be ALIVE and WELL.

Celebrating my 52nd birthday only (9) days ago was a BLESSING.

I'm looking forward to what the New Year brings.

I'll exercise more.

I'll write more.

I'll travel more.

I'll enjoy time with loved ones more.

I'll give more gratitude for simply being.

I pray for everyone and everything.

Happy New Year's Eve!!!!!

Amen.

The Way I Used To Be

My dear friend, Mike, from my NYC days, posted an old pic of me today.  I believe I was somewhere around 32 years BLESSED or so.

I've gotta admit, I like the way I looked back then.

Now, I'd like to be a bit more muscular.

But hey, until I start exercising toward that kind of body, I'll be precisely what I am this moment.

Yeah, when it comes down to my appearance, I truly like the way I used to be.

And as for the way I look today?

I still feel A-okay!

Twas The Day After Christmas

Well, well, here it is the day after Christmas and I'm at home chillin'!

Last night, I actually went out for Christmas dinner at Saddle Ranch Chop House on Sunset Blvd.  My reservation was for 7:45 PM.  After valeting the car, I walked inside the joint and it was JAM-PACKED!!!!!!!!!!  Honestly, every generation known to man was represented!  I saw babies, children, young adults, folks in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60+!!!!!

After dinner, my friend, Donald, and I headed out to hit a few bars.  Yep, bars were open on Christmas night.  We stopped at three of 'em and drank at two!  I'll say this much about myself: whenever I know I'll have a couple drinks, I drink TONS of water while I'm at the establishment.  In fact, I pace myself by having water with each drink.

I have aged out of partying at one of my former favorite spots, The Abbey.  Well, I've aged out of partying there at night, but early afternoons/evenings are fine.  You know, "mature" folks need to be in bed by 10 PM!  Ha!!  I was there late last night, so I got a good view of young people doing what young people do.  Hell, what I used to do as a young person!  God bless 'em.  God bless 'em!  :)

Tomorrow, it's back at my volunteer gig with the elderly.  It'll be great to see them and find out how they're enjoying this holiday season.  Being in their presence isn't a "job" or a burden.  It's a PRIVILEGE!!!!!

A privilege I'm soooooooooo THANKFUL to have been given!!!!

CHRISTMAS 2015

\

The Day After

 

YESTERDAY marked 52 YEARS I've been BLESSED to exist on this GLORIOUS planet!!

At this point, I'm not DYING anything!

And I'm not DENYING anything!

I'm SIMPLY...

IMMEASURABLY...

THANKFUL to BE HERE!!!

52 And THANKFUL!!!!!

As I sit here in my bedroom at 2:15 AM on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015, I am THANKFUL, THANKFUL, THANKFUL for seeing ANOTHER day!!!

I'm HERE!  I'm HERE!!!

Many folks have not been BLESSED to see 52 years on this planet.

But I HAVE been!

So, that means I still have unfinished business on this planet.

Dear God...

Dear Universe...

THANK YOU for giving me another sunset, and hopefully, another sunrise.

THANK YOU for my beloved, deceased PARENTS.

THANK YOU for my beloved, deceased SISTER.

THANK YOU for my beloved, LIVING SIBLINGS.

THANK YOU!

And, oh, THANK YOU for allowing WHITNEY HOUSTON to sing, "Happy Birthday" to me!

THANK YOU!!  THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!

Brick House

When I was in college back in the '80s, I thought my fraternity house was enormous!  It comfortably housed more than 70 of us.  And I LOVED it!!

Almost 10 years ago, that house was demolished.

In 2006, the new house, designed by my Pledge Brother, Jim Riddle, was built right next door.

Now, here it is 2015 and fraternity houses are BIGGER and BOLDER than ever!  Just take a peek at the newly renovated Beta Theta Pi house at The University of Oklahoma.

All I've got to say about their house is...

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s.  Oh, I also wonder each member pays per month to live there!  I betcha it isn't the $350.00 I had to pay!!!!!!!!
  

Oklahoma House Tour from Beta Theta Pi on Vimeo.

I Love Christmas...Cards!

I always look forward to this time of year, 'cause I love sending and receiving Christmas cards and Christmas newsletters!!!!!!!  Already, I've received beautiful cards from a few folks!

My beloved friend, Shelley, sent a card that included cute lil' messages about each family member!  I loved it!

My fraternity brother, Scott Cougill, sent a beautiful newsletter with photos and updates on each family member.  Each and every one of his children seems determined to make this world a better place for others.  Parenting job well done, Mr. Cougill!

Another beloved friend/fraternity brother, Father Mike, sent a card and his annual newsletter.  The man travels abroad more than any other human being I know!!  Heck, over the years, I bet he's been through a half dozen passports!!!

I'm gonna go out and buy some cards before this upcoming weekend and get 'em mailed out by Saturday!!!!  I've simply gotta!!!!!

The Trumpster

Folks are so full of SH*T!

I see MILLIONS of posts about how AWFUL, RACIST and HATEFUL Donald Trump is and why we SHOULDN'T vote for him!

I say, WHY give HIM so much breath and energy???

What I wanna know is...

The Soul Cafe

Last night, I dusted off my age-old apprehension about attending musical theater and stepped out to see Don B. Welch's THE SOUL CAFE.

Boy, oh boy, am I HAPPY I did!

The SINGING was OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!

Andrea Jones opened her mouth and I swear, HEAVEN rolled out note after note after note!!!

And who knew Todd Anthony has a voice-over voice as smooth as silk and an inner DEMON that the audience wanted to CRUCIFY??!!!

I'm not a violent person by any stretch of the imagination, but I sure wanted to slap Scott St. Patrick Williams' character upside the head.  SEVERAL times!!! B*tch betta have my money!!! Haaa!

THE SOUL CAFE was a HOOT!

And Loretta Devine is SIMPLY DIVINE!!!!!

When the show comes back, I'm GOIN' back to see it!!!!

The Truth, The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth

Everywhere I turn, The Universe tells me practically the EXACT, SAME thing!!!