Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!

I'm away for the holidays and will be making very few blog entries until after the new year. But, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! 2008 is the year of New Beginnings and the year of Fullness and I know that all of your heart's desires will be fulfilled. Be blessed and I look forward to chatting with you next year!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Nothing is impossible to him who believes!

Happy Sunday! I've been a bad blogger lately as I've been pulled away with all of the Christmas season preparations. But, I "ran" across something that I just had to share with you that will encourage you to believe in your gifts and go live your dreams!

Have you ever heard of Bill Bartman? Probably not, and that's OK as most people haven't. He dropped out of school at 14 years old, was homeless and lived under bridges. But, he pulled it together and became a millionaire as CEO of an oil pipe company. Then, lost it all in the oil crisis of the 1980's. He then went into collections and became a billionaire. Then, scandal ruined his business and he lost it all. Now, he's making millions and helping people live their dreams.

I can't put his story into words as you HAVE to hear it from him (he describes running away from home at 14, sleeping under bridges and eating out of dumpsters as an "upgrade" from living at home). This is not a long interview but I promise you that you will never again believe that you can't make it after listening to his story.

Be prepared to be inspired. The scripture is true - NOTHING is impossible to him who believes!

Part 1


Part 2

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Thank God for Technology!



As many of you know I'm a huge movie buff. Well, while growing up I remember one film in particular that would always play during the Christmas Holidays - Imitation of Life starring Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda, Juanita More and a cameo appearance by the great Mahalia Jackson. When people ask me what is my favorite movie of all time my answer is always the same, it's Imitation of Life.

Now, if you're not a movie buff or if you were born after 1980 you may not be familiar with this brilliant piece of cinema. It was released in 1959 and like the film "Guess who's coming to Dinner" it was light-years ahead of its time. And through the wonders of technology I found a copy on DVD - fully restored and remastered. I'm in movie Heaven!

This film deals with the "real" issues of the human experience including the passion and pursuit of a dream, the price of success, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, relationships, race in America before the civil rights era, the entertainment industry, maternal bounds, forgiveness, the love of a Mother, childhood love, love and love affairs, self-identity, self-hatred, racism, the bond between women, the roles of men and women in relationships, homelessness, compassion, empathy, death and the loss of a parent, and on and on and on.

After seeing this film at least 50 times I never get tired of it and I cry every time I see it. For this film not to touch your heart it would have to be made of stone. I am telling you that this film will make the hardest of hearts as soft as cotton.

If you've never seen it before do yourself a favor and order a copy here and take a moment to view what is truly a brilliant piece of work. Both Juanita Moore (who plays Annie) and Susan Kohner (who plays her daughter Sarah Jane) were both nominated for Academy Awards for "Best Supporting Actress" for their performances. And, if I'm not mistaken their nominations were the very first for an African-American woman. Thank God for technology!

Sunday, December 02, 2007

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas



Now that the Thanksgiving Holidays have passed it's time to look forward to Christmas. I LOVE this time of year and Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays. There's so much to love that I can't mention it all but I love the snow, turkey, sweets, hot chocolate, family, friends, shopping and "spirit" of giving that permeates everything and everyone.

Recently, the town where I work held their annual "Christmas Walk" - a special time where the local vendors stay open late and everyone comes out to shop. There are horse-driven sleds, reindeer, roasted marsh mellows and the store owners have window displays featuring real people instead of mannequins.

This was my first time participating in this event and I have to admit that despite the freezing cold I had a blast (it was approx. 20F/-6C without the wind-chill factor). I couldn't capture everything as my hands were frostbitten so I hope these photographs make you feel like you were there as it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Be blessed and keep shooting!




















One local vendor set up a petting zoo where the children could pet reindeer. Being a big kid myself you know I had to get my "pet" on.
:-)



Nothing special here but since LPs are almost extinct I thought it would be cool to share a real-life record store with those of us who still own and operate Turntables. What is a Turntable? Well, you see we use to take this thing called a record, which was a large piece of black plastic, and then we would put it on...never mind...


This is a new store that has opened recently and I don't quite "get" their Christmas window display. I mean I "get" it but I don't "get" it. Got it?


This is an intimate apparel store and for their "live" window display they featured two belly dancers - one naughty and one nice. I'm not going to touch that one...