Saturday, April 4, 2020

Mindfulness Meditation


Recently, I've been introduced to Mindfulness Meditation.

I find that practicing my mindfulness exercises is best when I'm in a dark room, completely still.

My ideal room would be an otherwise dark bedroom with a large skylight that allows moonlight to fill the room. The only sound I wanna hear is rain beating against the skylight(s).

Oh, my God, that would be HEAVEN to me!!!!

Nothing makes me feel more at peace than the sound of rain beating against windows and car roofs.

Mindfulness meditation compels me to simply feel GRATITUDE for all I HAVE and all I AM.

During this COVID-19 quarantine, I'm immeasurably thankful for my apartment, the food in my cupboards, and my FAITH.

Because it's my FAITH that keeps my mind at peace.

What will be, will be.

Now, let's bring on the rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

That's What I Believe


The COVID-19 bug has turned this country upside down!

Businesses closed!

Schools closed!

Churches closed!

Parks closed!

Damn near everything has closed, so people can remain at home and stop the spread of the disease.

California's governor and mayor strongly advise us to only leave our homes to buy groceries and to take care of medical-related business.

SAFER AT HOME is the name of the order advising Los Angeles County residents to stay home!!!

In addition to the grocery store, I also go to the park daily, just to get in some exercise and sunlight. I make sure to stand far away from everybody! Even farther away than the 6 ft distance suggested.

This is gonna be a tough time for many. Especially those of us who earn our livings in the gig economy. If we don't work, we aren't paid. For the most part. Luckily, I have commercial residuals coming in, but by no means enough to sustain me if this quarantine persists more than a few months. Yes, this crisis will undoubtedly compel folks to start saving much more of their paychecks than we currently have.

Now is the time that those of us who profess to walk in FAITH will be put to the test. While talking to my therapist the other day, I told her that despite all the doom and gloom regurgitated on the internet and TV, on an hourly basis, this ol' boy WON'T worry. Because I'm a true believer that: if you're gonna PRAY, don't WORRY; if you're gonna WORRY, don't PRAY.

I WILL PREVAIL over this temporary debacle.

I WILL RESUME my acting and voice-over work.

I WILL earn even MORE money from those pursuits than I earned BEFORE COVID-19 attacked us!

Come HELL or HIGH WATER, EVERYTHING works in MY FAVOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least...

THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#CAMJrIsBlessed
#StaySAFE
#StayHOME

Thursday, March 12, 2020

The Plague


Oh, boy, are folks nervous these days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Correction: folks are SCARED SH*TLESS!

Why, you ask?

The CORONAVIRUS Disease (COVID-19)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Per the World Health Organization:

"Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing."

Two months ago, this was a disease I had never heard of! Heck, I suppose most folks hadn't. Then, all of a sudden, it was EVERYWHERE!

As it stands, the countries hit hardest by this recent outbreak are: China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, France, USA, Switzerland, Norway and Japan!

Here in the states, damn near every event and/or organization that draws a crowd (i.e. athletic events, schools, theatrical productions, conventions, etc.) has been cancelled or postponed 'til further notice.

Actors, service industry workers, convention presenters, behind-the-scenes showbiz folks, and a host of others are undoubtedly gonna feel a significant pinch by the cancellation of gigs. Small businesses, in particular, will suffer if their doors are closed for too long.

I'm simply gonna do what I always do: keep my head up, do what I can to stay afloat happily, and hope and pray for better days! SOON!

As a people, we WILL get through this!

TRIUMPHANTLY!

I do wholly believe that!

I have NO other viable choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, March 2, 2020

Smell The Flowers NOW!


TODAY, enjoy every single moment, y'all, 'cause this ain't a dress rehearsal!

Smell the flowers NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

SAG-AFTRA Radio Plays - "Father Knows Best"









Last week, I made my Los Angeles stage debut!!!!!!!

Yippee!!!

I performed in the annual SAG-AFTRA Radio Play production!

We recreated an old radio broadcast of FATHER KNOWS BEST.

I performed the role of ANNOUNCER.

And I LOVED it!

I was truly in my element: just my VOICE, and a MIC!

We performed two shows!

The entire cast was simply PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Next year, if I'm not booked somewhere else, I'll have to audition for the next productions!

I had a BLAST!!!!!

Monday, February 17, 2020

Jazzy Dame


IRIS APFEL is dang near 100 years BLESSED!

And still as jazzy as ever!!!!!!!

God bless her!!!!!!!!!!! 

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

My Son, My Son, My Son


One of the joys of acting in Hollywood is meeting incredibly talented people who share my same love of going from set to set and slipping into the lives of someone else.

This young actor, JOSHUA SMITH, has quite a future ahead of him.

I wish him COLOSSAL success in 2020 and BEYOND!

Oh, I wish the same for ME too! :) :) :) 

And folks, stay AWAY from OPIOIDS, dangit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#TruthCampaign 
#SayNoToOpioidAddiction