No Surrender

It's very weird.

This particular entry is probably going to sound more along the lines of one of my personal blogs, but it relates to TTDBYD.

I realize it's a new year and typically with that everyone feels like they need to make some momentous life change. I get like that too, but in changing things the end result is in theory supposed to be for the better.

Twice today, I've found out that a friend (two different people I mean) has given up something that is of significant importance to them and in both cases it seems it was because they became disillusioned--either with people or the process--and let that deter them from doing something they loved and were enthusiastic about.

Now, I am one who truly knows about letting that kind of thing get to me. I'm guilty on occasion of that, but then I take a step back, reassess my situation and go from there and I hope that both of my friends can do that--otherwise two talents are going to go to waste.

I say that to say--now, especially NOW is NOT the time to give up on accomplishing your goals, dreams or whatever it is you're trying to do. In fact now is the time to go harder, dig deeper and push yourself farther.

I'm ready. What about you?

2011

I'm counting down to accomplishing more goals this year including...

getting my Master's in about 5 months.

yeah!!!

I'm compiling this year's list of small TTDBYD goals so I can get back on track.

This is the year I live!!!

Get ready world, cause here I come...

Flying Backwards

Be in a music video.


This was something I had on the list some time ago and I got to cross it off when me and mini me made a couple of cameos in a video that was shot in Atlanta.

This time around however--this is a little more special. This is the first video for my group PHAB (which stands for Perfect Harmony and Balance). If you're wondering where I've been, it preparing for this right here...: So here is our first video for my new theme song "Flying Backwards"

A Real Tear Jerker

I know I know, I haven't posted in awhile. Shame on me.

But I found this awesome story today. So a little old lady who has an incurable cancer had just 3 things on her bucket list. One of which was to meet NBA Star Dwight Howard...

So guess who showed up to her house...

Read the entire story here

Be aware it's a tear jerker..

BTW, got plans to knock a couple more off the list as the birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks!

The Definition of Determination

If you can watch this without feeling inspired...something is wrong.

This contestant from China's Got Talent lost BOTH of his arms in a tragic accident as a kid, but learned to play piano...with his FEET. If that ain't determination for you, I don't know what is... Not only is he talented, but I love what he says (rough translation aside)...

The Love Poem

I've been so caught up in other stuff, I almost forgot that I was able to cross something else off my list in the last few weeks--twice actually.

About a year ago I said I would perform a love poem on stage.

This is kind of a big deal for me because I don't write love poems. Not that I can't obviously, but it's a topic I don't touch normally and I didn't write my first really good one until last year.

So back in June when I went to Boston and found myself in a 3-2-1 slam. For those of you who are unfamiliar, it means you do three rounds of poetry--the first piece is 3 mins, the second one is 2 mins and the third 1 min. The problem is I didn't realize until about 15 mins before we were set to start that it was a 321. It dawned on me that without cutting or speeding through a piece I had nothing for the middle round so I was forced to change my game plan. I decided to take a gamble with my 2 minute and pull out the only love poem I had memorized --I scored pretty darn good too, if I remember correctly it scored the highest of the 3 that I did and I ended up in 2nd place by about a half point.

After that, I decided I would at least try to rotate it in somewhere and that's where last week came in.

On Monday, I had the best night in awhile--I mean so good, folks in the audience were walking up to me mid set and handing me roses. During a break a girl walked up to me and asked if I would listen to a piece she wrote--she was too scared to do it on stage so I made her a deal. If she agreed to do hers (which I thought was quite good), I would do another one at her request--and wouldn't you know she asked if I had a love poem. I told her my dilemma with the whole love poem thing, but said I would do the one I knew. Next thing you know, she did so I did.

That said--surprisingly enough it went really well. And as such I am officially taking it off the list. In the interim, I have a recording session in about 2-3 weeks and I have been asked to record this piece over music, at which point I'll post it up so you all can hear it. :)

The wedding...

Well again, thank EVERYONE sincerely for the love and support for my friends.

The dream wedding was on Sunday. As promised, I am sharing with you.

Let me say I had an absolutely fabulous weekend. I rode up to New York on Sunday morning and it was pretty much hotter than the third circle of hell. I took a little walk in Central Park since it was across the street and then came back and started helping with some of the last minute stuff.

We started a few minutes late, but all in all it was perfect:













And...

Just when it couldn't get better, the groom surprised everyone, by having Dru Hill perform at the reception. YES... THAT Dru Hill. OMG--they can SANG!! (yes I said SANG not SING)



Which inadvertently allowed me to cross an item off my list:

Item #66: take a picture with a celebrity (check)

That's me with Sisqo. LOL. They actually stayed for a little while at the reception which was really nice--I thought they were super nice.

All in all it was absolutely an amazing day. I know they are so HAPPY!