Express Yourself (Don't mind if I influence you)

My eleven-year-old niece just created her first CD mix.

Here it is:
1. Blue Jeans - Lana Del Rey
2. Pain - Three Days Grace
3. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
4. Skyfall - Adele
5. Sail - AWOLNATION
6. Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
7. Jolene - The Little Willies
8. Shiny Happy People - r.e.m.
9. It's My Life - Bon Jovi
10. Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
11. Keep The Faith - Bon Jovi
12. Blue Lips - Regina Spektor
13. Kids - MGMT
14. Jungle Drum - Emiliana Torrini

Except for the Bon Jovi triad in the middle (what can I say, she has a crush on Jon), this is a pretty eclectic and thankfully Bieber free compilation that I actually enjoy playing while I'm shuttling her around in my car.

- My work, although not done, is well on it's way...

"We are Young Despite the Years... We are Hope Despite the Times"

Superstition makes us believe that maybe, someday, something good will happen.
I believe that hard work, perseverance, and the unwavering trust in your own ability to deliver the goods may actually play a part in this. We can't trust that we'll win the lottery and all will be fine. It's time to get up off our asses and do the work. I know this - I am doing it right now! Run Dee Run!

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

What do you get when you combine the best of two great movies - "Run Lola Run" and "The Conversation"?

I'm not sure yet, but the answer is slowly unraveling right before my eyes.

I don't try to fool myself with the assurance that everything I write is original, one-of-a-kind, unique, etc., etc., etc... (even that's not original). Instead, with every piece of pop culture - art, film, and  literature that I have absorbed through the years, I hope to combine the freshest of ingredients, and much like a chef, produce a dish that will satisfy. Something that offers a little bit of comfort (familiarity) with a dash of "Je ne sais quoi."

Jain's Addiction and Other Compulsions

I'm finally at the point where I can focus on my own projects. Family takes up a lot of time. Now that things are settled I am visiting with an old friend - let's call her Jain. Jain and I have a lot in common and I'm dying to tell her story. You can say I've been anticipating this for a long time - it's been somewhat of a compulsion and until I get the words down on paper, I'll be in a state of inertia. Like when an addict puts off going into rehab because they have "plans." Well, I have plans - ones that will kick start and set me in motion. I hope...

False Starts, New Beginnings

I`m sure everyone has experienced a false start sometime in their lives. It happened to me last week - but it took me over seven weeks to realize it. I had to drop my course before it dropped me. And though it took an emergency to push me to do it, I realize now that since I did it, I feel relieved.
I am not a quitter. I know I would have suffered through the course and persevered, but the right choice for me was to end it. Recognize the false start and start over - preferably taking a different course.
The emergency has passed but I realize that for the next little while, I am needed in a different capacity. I also have the time to work exclusively on my own work. No more excuses! No homework to interfere with my project! No more acid reflux!
(Seriously, I`m not even joking. It disappeared the day I withdrew from the course. Hmmm...)

My Life On Cruise Control - Part Deux

I made another discovery. For the past couple of years my life has been stuck somewhere between neutral and first gear. Despite the fact that there may have been external contributing factors, I realize that the only way to become unstuck was to take responsibility for myself. So I did. I'm back at school part time, working on a post-graduate writing certificate. I'm working my way up to second or maybe even third gear. My ultimate goal is to reach a gear that is high enough to allow me to engage the cruise control (believe me, it will make me happy).
Milestones have to be met I know; stumbling may occur - but ultimately, I need to do it.

P.S. I will mos def keep a record of my progress and post the results...


 "Do or do not. There is no try."  - Yoda

My Life On Cruise Control - Part One

I made an incredible discovery this past Friday. On my drive down to Michigan, I finally used the cruise control for my car. What a revelation! I felt like I was playing a video game. A four - hour drive seemed to take so much less time and when I reached my destination and exited the car, I could actually walk! No leg stiffness at all. I believe this incredible invention and my subsequent use will allow me to enjoy road trips for a long, long time.
I felt a little like Vince Vaughn's character in "The Watch" and my favourite scene with the Russian dolls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x6_94sZYOc .