Gregg Potter

Loving This

2012-02-23T12:56:00.002-08:00

I can't wait for these two movies that are coming in the near future. They are both on the topic of the future and I am mesmerized on the thought process to both of these movies. Just wanted to share them with you all.

A Quick Catch Up on LGBT Rights

2012-02-22T11:52:00.001-08:00

So much has been happening in the world of civil rights, especially when it comes to gay marriage. A couple weeks ago, the state of Washington legalized gay marriage. I wanted to post this interview from Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell and Representative Maureen Walsh who happens to be Republican with a lesbian daughter. It is definitely worth taking a look.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I also wanted to make sure that people understand what is happening in New Jersey. Both the state senate, and the state house of representatives have passed a bill that will allow gay marriage in the state. The governor, Chris Christie then last Friday, vetoed the bill and stated that it only be far in a public election. There is a huge difficulty when an issue with a minority gets put up to vote by the majority. This Newsy Politics video helps get my point across much better.

Project Kinect's Last Month

2012-02-06T16:08:00.001-08:00

I just posted this on Project Kinect yesterday and thought it best also throw it on my blog. Here you go...

For the last month, I am completely locked in on staying in the state of Wisconsin. I would like to reach my hands out into the world of technology and hear from as many people as possible in this last month. How you ask? With an email, a video, or just a simple facebook or twitter message.
The largest part of my wanting to create Project Kinect was to explore connecting in this technological age. In this, how do we still fulfill that human connection that we need when we aren’t necessarily physically face to face. Through the exploration of connecting, are we really getting to know each other? Over the last year, I have gotten the chance to see some really extraordinary ways we are connecting. One of my favorites was in Austin with the Skype play, “You Don’t Know Her, She Lives in London: You Don’t Know Him, He Lives in Austin”, produced by the Hidden Room Theatre. This play used Skype to share the experience of two characters in two different apartments in two opposite parts of the world.
In this last month, I want to hear from you. With the help of technology, I would like to get as many people as possible to connect in one forum. I ask that each person that this post comes across takes a look at the questions and in a response to me via email (gregg@projectkinect.com), facebook, twitter, or a video , answers as many of the questions as they would like. In the response, please tell me your name, age, where you’re from, what you do, and any other information you would like to share about yourself. Please also add whether you would mind me sharing the basics of your input with the followers of Project Kinect. I look forward to hearing and reading all about the lives and stories of everyone.

I do have one last request. After you are done reading this post, whether or not you respond to it, please share it with your communities so that for this last month, I can truly hear from the largest group of people possible.

Thank you for your involvement to an extraordinary year!

Sincerely,
Gregg Potter

How do you define community?

Where does your inspiration come from?

How much time do you give selflessly?

What great accomplishments have any of the communities that you’re involved with completed?

What have you been a part of in your life that absolutely amazes you?

What is something about yourself that you have always wanted to share but haven’t?

If you have hesitated from doing what you want, did fear or money scare you most?

When have you been motivated to get involved with politics?

What is the last great face to face conversation that you have had?

What was the last big risk you took?

Oh Bea Arthur

2011-12-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

Somehow I came across this video on Bea Arther presenting at the Joan Collin's roast and I couldn't help to sit and watch video after video of her. She really was pretty extraordinary.

Thank you for everything you gave us!

The Course of a Year

2011-12-14T18:56:00.001-08:00

It’s Tuesday, December 13th. We’re on the stretch of the twelve days of Christmas and into the final stretch of 2011. Where does that leave me?

I am normally someone who reflects often but I never really spend a ton of time reflecting on the past year as we approach New Years. For some reason, this year just seems to be different. I am in a spot right now that I had never imagined when I began this year. Where I would be was undefined, but I was confident that it wouldn’t be working a restaurant job in my home town. That, unfortunately, saddens me a little and it shouldn’t. I have no reason in the world to be sad and that is why it is necessary for me to do a check on what I have accomplished, have had huge hurdles with, and how have evolved in that span of three hundred and sixty-five days.

Before we reflect on the past year though, I believe it to be extremely important to look at what we know for certain that the next year will bring. I know for a fact that I will be turning thirty-two next year and have to deal with whatever that means to me. I know that I have some really extraordinary people in my life getting married which include my close friend Beth and my cousin who has always been another sister to me.

In April I will be returning to Los Angeles in the hopes of making it to a point where I am able to live as a self employed person who can contribute the absolute most possible to society. That move also has the motive of making steps forward on the opportunity to live not only in Los Angeles, but in Madison, WI as well. In my adulthood, I truly know how difficult it is to not be near your family. Not just your biological family, but your entire family that you pick up along the way while traveling our journeys.

I also know that in 2012, there will be everything that I didn’t mention. It is equally important to acknowledge there is so much room for everything we don’t know will happen. Our journey is the meat and that meat is everything that is unexpected, not forethought and comes up in the details. Knowing that you haven’t planned everything and there is room for the unplanned is comforting. Find comfort in the year to come knowing that things will happen that we are not prepared for and that we will have the tools to handle it; whatever it may be. Acknowledging these future events can better help me think about this past year.

Today I got three remarkable things in the mail: A post card, a Christmas post card and a Christmas card. The significance of this mail is who sent them. I speak of inspiration often and this mail has brought me inspiration from how strong and amazing these people are who mailed them to me. In the last year, they have all went against some life-breaking obstacles and have came out better because of them. That is inspiring.

The post card came from Korea. One of my past employees from Starbucks made a decision on a whim when a friend invited her to come stay with his family in South Korea, nanny and teach English. With no preparation except the drive for new experiences and adventure, she said yes only having two months to make sure everything would be put in place in Los Angeles.

The Christmas post card came from one of my closest college friends and her family. The picture is her, her husband and their beautiful baby boy, Catcher. This last year she finished graduate school on the east coast, picked up everything with her new family and moved across the country saying good bye to the life they had built and some phenomenal human beings they had met while living in the north east.

The Christmas card that I received today was from a friend down south. She had a rollercoaster of a year that gave her some great steps forward revolutionizing an arts community that is already ahead of its time. She has taken a chance by putting herself out there for a man who is near the level of brilliance she is; all this happening in the midst of losing a job in a career path she had put her whole being into. This has not stopped her one bit, and has used it as an opportunity to create exactly what she wants for her life. Her journey is only ten times stronger because of this hiccup.

As I look at my year, I spend time looking at answers to the question why? Why did I give up my nice salaried job in Los Angeles? Why did I throw all of my money into the opportunity to travel and meet people throughout the country? And, why have I continued to take a chance on a media company that needed a lot more work than I could give to it this last year? Well I look at the events of this past year and find all of these answers and so much more.

I find the answers in the moment I was on top of the world, or just on the roof of a restaurant in Saint Petersburg, FL watching the sunset, listening to a man play music watching three older women dancing having the time of their lives. Again I find answers watching my friend Alyssa give her whole self while listening to painful story after painful story when we were in Tuscaloosa. Not blinking or turning away, just listening, reminding me of the importance of listening.

I remember my phone going absolutely crazy the morning I made the Today Show and everyone was facebooking, calling and texting me to tell me they saw me. Answers came from my surprising cab drive at seven in the morning in New Orleans, learning a valuable life lesson from a New Orleans resident for the entirety of his life. This twenty minute cab ride in search for beignets will forever be in my mind.

The moment I realized I was taking spiritual responsibility for my god daughter in Las Vegas and then later sitting with close friends discussing music from our past hits me with answers as does getting picked up at the Milwaukee airport in a snow thunderstorm in the middle of April by Melanie for her birthday. Later that week, I got the opportunity to experience a ride along with the keeper of the Kishwaukee Corridor in Rockford, IL.

I am not only given the answers but am reassured of the path I am on when I think about Dina and I doing our two year anniversary show in Los Angeles. Having created this experience with one my best friends is reason why all by itself. Reassurance is sitting on a stopped train for six hours on the way to New York because of tornadoes knocking over trees onto the tracks. This “delay” gave me the opportunity to have an in depth conversation with a mother of two just trying to get back home to Raleigh. I am further reassured by the spontaneity of life when a random trip to the only bar open in Beaumont, TX introduced four tired travelers to Rhonda, a drag queen who just needed to get out that night.

I remember sitting listening to Arlene Goldbard talk at the APASO conference in Austin and knowing I was exactly where I should be as well as when I met Jo in Tampa. Her story of traveling for so long on the sailboat, her journey with Yoga and running the Olympic torch is something of legends.

Whether it was sitting in the car on a trip to Las Vegas with a toddler, late night recordings on skype, waiting for Matt to get me at Penn Station, finding out the ins of the EPA and adventures of free D.C., getting a surprise travel companion to Baltimore, seeing behind the scenes of Cirque Du Soleil, wading through the beautiful and untouched by man Hurricane Creek, experiencing the demonstrations in St. Paul for gay marriage, or an afternoon impromptu photo shoot with a close friend, I have been given all of the answers to the questions why from this past year.

I am thankful for all of these moments and am eternally grateful for each one as well as everyone that was involved. I laugh at how some of these memories really were so time-sensitive and just worked out. Getting a moment with Holly literally minutes before she got on a flight to India, getting a lunch with Michael as he was driving from one show sight to the next and just sitting with Adam while he was home from Dubai.

The distance from the beginning of a year to the end of one is so short that we need to cherish and reflect on this distance so we can appreciate what has happened and what will come. The beginning of this year was sitting at Big Wangs in Hollywood as Dina and I watched our phones patiently for the launch of our online magazine. In the life movie in my head, that is a significant scene, as well as an impromptu country music concert with Dolly and April and my staff being so supportive just last night, as we had an event that did not produce the turn out I had expected. The pictures and moments with my staff make this year’s journey whole. I was supposed to have this experience back home with the group of people I had it with.

I could go on and on with moments and experiences from this last year, but that is not the only reason why this journey is significant. For me, even though it is a bit selfish, I was to get to know myself better. In observing and experiencing our country, I inevitably got a chance to view myself in a more clearly defined light. I needed to get to know me for who I am and get a better idea of how I am perceived from the outside. I needed to take some time and see if the view from the outside matches who I claim and think I am. All these experiences help to make that assessment on this gigantic integrity check.

As for the rest of the year, I will continue to look at the goals I have made and setting up a plan of action into getting those goals fulfilled. While finding comfort in the balance of who I want to be and who I am from the outside world, I need to still make sure I am being productive and moving forward. I additionally need to take time to recognize those who have supported and been inspirational to my past year. That is necessary as I move forward. Those people responsible for me getting this far need to know how impactful they have been because it is true, WE ARE ALL INVOLVED! This was not the journey of one person.

As the New Year approaches, I want to go further with the WE ARE ALL INVOLVED campaign by turning my resolutions into acts that include a larger amount of people than just me. I ask that if this inspires you, that you also involve others in your resolutions. Stray away from losing ten pounds and reading more and turn it into getting a walking group together who meets at lunch, or creating a youth reading program. This is the direction we need to be evolving; from me to we. To become stronger and healthier as a community, we have to be united and start watching out for one another. It is that level of social responsibility that will get our dreams accomplished as a whole entity and raise the level of brilliance even higher for our entire species. It is a simple statement that has become my mantra.

WE ARE ALL INVOLVED!

Some news in the LGBT community

2011-12-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

There have been some really amazing things lately that have been huge for the LGBT community. The latest was the speech that Hilary Clinton gave at the UN yesterday.

Here is the video and I took it from the article at towleroad.com.

The next is this great article from dot429.com. It is an article on Daniel Radcliffe's views on gay marraige and his amazing work with the Trevor Project.

Scott Fujita's video on how he supports Marraige Equality. As an NFL quarterback, it says a lot for him to stand up and support all marraige.

And now I'm just adding this because I don't know what to think of it. It isn't good that he throws the gay card in there but really, who else does he have to pick on?

Time to Stop and Reset

2011-11-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

All the time, things need to be reset. Sometimes the best medicine for our computer is to just turn it off and let it sit for a moment. When we turn it back on, it is ready again for whatever we need it for. Our router needs the same thing, our cell phones, our cars, our outlets and so on. With a quick reset, our appliances and such are able to continue working without disruption. We are the exact same way.

One of the greatest luxuries of starting Project Kinect last winter was that I got the chance to meet my daily routines on my terms. There is no way to measure the magnitude of personal happiness when we are meeting deadlines, making appointments, and taking responsibility for ourselves and our own business. Well, unfortunately our own business doesn't always pay the bills and additional money making solutions are required. That is how I ended up here in Wisconsin for the winter, working at a restaurant that I love and for a woman that I admire, look up to and support completely. That does not disregard though how we all still get in routines that are not negotiated by ourselves.

I took off from the restaurant for the weekend to reset. For the past four days, I have had the opportunity again to run my life on my own schedule and it has been fantastic. Despite having a ton of responsibility at the restaurant, I am still in full force working on The Dina and Gregg Show(which we just left our radio station to launch Dign2it Radio), Dign2it Magazine, Project Kinect as well as a new nonprofit that I am helping out with in St. Paul. Those things are the big picture and it is necessary for us, as human beings, to repeatedly reset throughout our lives in order to keep a grasp on the big picture. It is a way to continually be centered to maximize our own productivity.

Think about the last time you reset? It could have been just a moment away from your children or the need to walk away from your staff for an hour. Maybe you needed to take a vacation and get out or you jumped in the car and drove for hours just to clear your head by processing everything. What ever it was, think if you need it again. We tend to reset when it is already too late. It's kind of like when we are so thirsty that we would do anything for a glass of water. Well, the water was really needed a while ago before it got to that desperate point. Our mental reset is completely like that.

Well, that is my thought for today. I must return to my to do list. Have a great day. Take a moment for yourself.

These videos really don't have anything to do with the post. I just came across them for the first time in a while and thought it would be great to post them.

Waiting with the Weight

2011-11-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

Tonight at work I had an eye opening moment in the realm of my own insecurities. We were getting to the end of the night in the restaurant,(I'm in WI working at a restaurant right now if you don't know) and for some reason the two straight men, along with the female who was my closing server, got on the conversation of weight. I didn't think anything of this and when everyone was sharing. I quickly spouted out my my usual weight spectrum of 185 to 190. Knowing in my head that I haven't been eating the best, I figured it probably was around 195. Well, either way, I just let it fall off the shoulders and moved on with my life. The universe was not having that though.... Uh Uh Uhhhh! My closing server announced that she knew where a scale was down stairs and we all should check our weights right then and there.

Well that sounded the alarms. Me thinking about not eating the best turned into I'M WEARING HEAVY SHOES! IT'S THE END OF THE DAY! I SHOULD POOP FIRST! and every other possible "heavy" thought I could. Well it was about to get worse.

Two of them went and grabbed the scale and I sat there, and thought nothing of it, and then they getting adamant about me getting on it. This quickly went from a screaming in my head to an actual, "No, I will not get on that scale!!!" It wasn't about me not wanting them to know how much I weighed, it was about me not wanting to know how much I weighed. I have not thought that much about my weight since I left Los Angeles for my travels for Project Kinect. I have been conscious about what is going into my body and how much I am putting out as of exercise but haven't actually weighed myself.

Well this wasn't my most stoic moment and I ran away and hid from the guys while I quickly worked on closing duties and tried to forget my fit. While I was filling my time with tasks, I sat in the question of why did I have such a problem with this? Also, why am I so insecure with my weight? I am really, extremely insecure with my body and I have no clue where this stems from. I remember moments as a younger child at the pool thinking I was bigger. At one point I was husky, but never large. In high school I always felt that I was large but then I look back at pictures of me then and realize I was a skinny white boy. That is all.

Well now I am a gay man who lives in Los Angeles. How did I get to this point where I am so disgusted by my body? I'm not completely sure but I know that this needs to be specified and eliminated from my being. It is a major character flaw that because of this odd moment in my life, I realize that I add so much cause of other avenues of my whole being from this one small issue. That magnifies this insecurity by a million.

Needless to say, when everyone was gone, because of the monster of major insecurities, I stood on the scale to see a whopping 206 pounds. Now it's one in the morning and I am making a list of ways that I can get to a size my brain thinks I should be. That is the thing about deep seeded insecurities. It takes more than a plan to resolve it. It takes repetition, habit breaking, daily reminders that this insecurity is just that, an insecurity.

As for all of you with what ever you have that gets you screaming at friends over something absolutely childish, remember that you have to have your fit to move forward. Maybe then some resolution will come of it. Maybe not. I will just finish my bottle of Pinot Nior and try to not think about it..... Well at least until I wake up and look in the mirror. Good night beautiful people because we all are absolutely perfect and beautiful just the way we are!

Sundance Celebrating Those Girls Who Love Us Boys

2011-11-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

The newest season of Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys officially airs on November 19th and it will be a great season. If you are not aware of this show, it is a reality show that follows four ladies and their gay best friends through the different drama and details to their lives. It is definitely showing all sides of these peoples lives and people who may never be exposed to these communities are getting a great example of how diverse we all are.

Fighting Women in Government

2011-11-14T15:23:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder that there are still real people running for higher positions in government. I know we all know this, but it is great to acknowledge it when we see more of it. Here are two women who continue to make waves in our government that are helping our the majority of us.

Dealing with Integrity and Personal Truths

2011-11-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about the truths that I know to be valid in my life. I know it sounds odd, but one of the only things that I can absolutely say I know for certain about getting older is that we start collecting a list of personal truths. This list doesn’t necessarily have to be true to other people, but they are true to one’s self. As I write this, I am enjoying one of my personal truths: That is, that I know when I need to be in a very melancholy yet inspired mood, all I need is a little Sade and a bottle of pinot nior. This has been this way for years and I know that about myself.

As I was going for an enjoyable autumn hike today, I started thinking about how life sometimes just isn’t the way we plan. I do feel that there is a great role for us all and sometimes we don’t take the most direct route of getting there but right now, I can’t figure out where my route is going. Before I get into this whole topic, I must ensure you that this is not a pity parade or some sort of self-inflicted guilt show; it is only to share what I have learned in this experience and hopefully gives a sense of security to someone else out there reading this.

Last January, I signed on to a great load of new work that would bring me into the next chapter of my life. It was December thirty-first and almost midnight and Dina and I were ferociously working on getting our first month’s edition of Dign2it Magazine. After that, we officially turned our Dign2it name into an LLC and started our media company. Much of these efforts are applauded to my friend and partner Dina. She took on such a burden by getting all of our paperwork set and filing all of the necessary papers to the proper offices. None the less, we got our company up and running.

At this same time, I was to set on my journey of Project Kinect. I put all of my belongings in storage, set a course to Las Vegas and then Austin, TX and then where ever from there. The purpose for my travels was to find out how people are connecting one-on-one and how these people, making up a plethora of different communities, are taking action to better them and their communities. This journey brought me all over the south and the east coast. I spent some time in Tampa and Saint Petersburg, Baltimore, New York, D.C., Connecticut, Rockford, Tuscaloosa, Minneapolis and many other significant places. I was on the Today Show, heard so many horrible sad stories and got the opportunity to hear stories of triumph. Despite the state of my current location, this journey is far from over.

While I was travelling, I was also working on helping our magazine grow and find ways to build our business. With me not in Los Angeles to help, it became almost a burden than a new opportunity on both Dina and I. We are still extremely motivated and moving forward, but the lack of day to day support grows heavy on our shoulders and success is taking a bit longer than we had hoped. Isn’t that how it always is though?

In all of this though, we celebrated her birthday in LA, we put on an amazing two year anniversary show of The Dina and Gregg Show and are expanding our media company into a great new venture. That is something to really celebrate as we go into our third year on air.

In June, all this greatness came to a halt. I was in Tuscaloosa, AL helping out with tornado clean up from the April twenty-fifth tornados that flattened much of the city and surrounding area. When I returned to Wisconsin to get centered, I realized that there was no more money in the center and I picked up an opportunity to make some money helping out a good friend at her new restaurant. Starting out as a summer gig to get back on my feet and continue with my journey on Project Kinect, it has now become a six month, rent a house and stick out the winter kind of set up. I love what I am doing and love that it is helping out the big picture of a friend’s dream but I can’t help to feel left out of my own life and in a huge space of idle back story that isn’t moving me forward.

So, I sit here in Wisconsin with a huge space in my heart and a huge lack of integrity. The space that is there is both positive and negative. It is a space that wasn’t there because my plans for the entire year were so set in stone. Now that I am here for these six months, I have space to work on some other things that would not have necessarily had the time to focus on them. Because of this new space, I have made a lofty list of goals that I will have accomplished by the time I leave. Some more personal and some are extremely business oriented to help all of my endeavors along.

This lack of integrity thing though is where I am having the major issues. I am not someone who just stops doing something and falls to the wayside on projects he sets out to accomplish so when I face the fact that I have stopped Project Kinect because I need to make money to go on, well that goes against what I said I would do if I got into this position. It goes against me saying that I would be out on the road for one entire year, nonstop, helping out and getting other people’s voices heard. I have failed at that goal.

I know, you are thinking “well, things happen. We all have to do what we have to do sometimes.” That is a help but I have so many beautiful loved ones who are supportive and tell me those same things. Well, I don’t need that right now. I need someone to hold me accountable to what I said I would do and say “Why the hell are you not doing it?” and tell me “Not good enough” when I answer them.

Unfortunately I don’t have anyone else to share this with right now because life is nonstop and the friends I can share with can’t understand and the friends that could understand have more pressing issues so that is why I am sharing it here, on my personal blog that doesn’t get read very often. It is out there and can be received by whomever, however, whenever.

I spent some time in Los Angeles working and partaking in the Landmark Education program. The most important thing that I took away from these great experiences is that once we admit that we have lost integrity, we can regain it by restating our intent and then continuing to do what we say in that intent. I have always felt that I have great integrity and that makes these feelings about what has happened in the last ten month even worse. However, with this knowledge, I can re-state my plan, and follow through with that new plan; always keeping in mind that the universe has it’s influence too.

Now that I am honest with myself, with my integrity and my plan in line, I go to the things that I have known to be absolutely true in my thirty years on this planet. We are always trying to know ourselves better, that is the bottom line. We do it in different ways like finding our soul mate, getting that perfect career, always finding a way to lead so people can be amazed by you and so on. Right now though, while I am getting through this rough part, I will go back to what I know are absolute truths in my life like Sade and red wine. It really can be that simple some times.

No More Down Low

2011-08-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I get to check out the online show, No More Down Low. Here is the episode from a few days ago that delt with the NAACP town hall meeting.

So Much Happening

2011-07-26T11:43:00.001-07:00

As I am getting ready to work today, I see so much that is happening and I need to share some of it. First and formost, the Dina and Gregg Show 2 Year Anniversary is this weekend.

So next, I would like to share a moment and remind that gay and lesbians began with their wedding vows yesterday in the state of New York. It may have taken a while, and it doesn't seem like a huge sucess because it is New York but still, it is New York. Congratulations to all the men and women who are gettting married. I am so excited for you.

Now, for this damn debt crisis and our quickly upcoming deadline. I feel that the best way to put it is through Jon Stewart right now because everything I am reading just continues to contradict itself. At least he is telling me this much.

Oh Michelle Bachmann

2011-07-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

I just came across this while I was venturing around Youtube. Take from it what you will.

A Thursday in July

2011-07-14T12:49:00.001-07:00

There was an article today on the Gay Politics Website today about how governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that will now teach LGBT history in schools. This is groundbreaking on so many reasons other than just for LGBT rights. We continue to see how the truth in history continues to be omitted from the text books. Knowing that this will be taught, as well as women's rights, civil rights and so on, gives us a more accurate visualization of what our American History is. http://www.gaypolitics.com/2011/07/14/california-governor-signs-lgbt-history-bill/

New York Loves Us

2011-06-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

This last Friday it went into full effect that gays and lesbians will be allowed to marry in the state of New York. I unfortunately still live in California but know it will eventually happen. I guess I would have to actually get into a committed relationship for that to even be useful. If you missed any of the coverage, here is a video from MSNBC.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In addition to this video, I want to add my new favorite Brittany video. I guess we'll just call it a gay day here at Took Potter.

First Day of Summer

2011-06-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday happened to be my favorite day of the year because it is the longest one. I am in Tuscaloosa for Project Kinect and for it, I spent the entire day in the creek helping to remove logs from it and get it cleaned up. Here is a quick video from that moment in my life.

As I was looking through the news this morning, I noticed that there was an article about the dismissal of a coming out video in Saugatuck, MI. Even though the city is extremely LGBT friendly, the school board voted to not let a video directed towards the eight grade class about what all teens, both gay and straight, need to know about coming out. Here is the article on Advocate.com.

When I went to Youtube to find the video and share with you, I was unsuccessful, but I did however find this video from Meet Zoe. She is from Australia and moved to Los Angeles as many of us do to get into show business. I haven't done any research about her yet, but I love this so far.

Being in Tuscaloosa for awhile, I've noticed the practically imaginary line between church and state. I realize that practically the entire country is to this point now, but down here, the two cross lines more than people say "Ya'll".

I decided to do a little research to see what is happening on these lines since the Bush administration put the "faith-based initiative" into play. The purpose of this initiative was to help faith based organizations expand the social services they did in their communities. Here is the article I found explaining President Obama's view on this from ABC News.

So it's May Already

2011-05-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

I have been the worst blogger on my own blog that could ever be. I while I am on Project Kinect, I am adding Took Potter into my daily routine. Until then though, here is the latest video from The Dina and Gregg Show.

A Love Story

2011-02-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the book Eat, Pray, Love, the author mentions her friend who was working with refugees and even though they had been through so much turmoil and life changing events, they still managed to go back to the topics of "I met this guy" or "I can't tell if likes me or not". What is that?

I, who happen to be on the threshold of starting the largest project of my life, still managed to fall into this trap. No matter who we are, where we are, and what is happening in our life, the need and want for love still becomes toward the top of the priority list. It amazes me. Here's my story. Well, the most recent one.

About 2 weeks ago, I was at one of Dina's stand up shows and afterward, her and I were talking with the producer of the show, as well as her friend. Needless to say, him and I hit it off and planned to meet up soon. We did, had a great date and continued it with great correspondence that was leading somewhere. That somewhere, very clearly being stated as getting to know each other because I would be traveling for a year. Not a secret, understanding that there was just not a lot of time for much other than some heat and getting to know each other.

Well, it turned into a little more pressure I guess because I got a text that we should not sweat it and just focus on the friendship part. That is great. It truly is but unfortunately I still liked him and of course was hoping it would venture somewhere further. I can't help it because I am a pathetic romantic. The bottom line is that I met a great guy and I get to become his friend. There is not a thing wrong with that. Not to mention I got some great make-out time with him. But, for those of you who still want to hear some jaded girl music, here you go.

When I mentioned that I am leaving in two weeks, I was talking about a project that I started about three months ago. It's called Project Kinect(http://projectkinect.com/). It is going to take me across the country for an entire year. I'm at the moment, in a state of shock and not really quite sure that it is coming together but in all actuality, it really is. I am so shocked. Here are a couple of the videos that I have for it so far. Check out the website and let me know what you think.

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

As it is now January fourth, and it has been more than two weeks since I have posted a thing, I think that is about time for me to do so. I began the year without my computer so there is my excuse. Really though, I've never put too much emphasis on how I begin my year but this year is turning out to be something already and I believe that it has something to do with how it began.

Dina and I just launched an online magazine called DiG N 2 It. and the website for is is DiGN2it.com. We were working on it diligently all evening on New Years Eve and then went to get a drink. The first place we went to was full and then found ourselves at this bar called Big Wangs. A big college type bar in the middle of Hollywood. Well, we bellied up to the bar, ordered a round, which turned out to be the cheapest round I've ever paid for in Los Angeles, and played the trivia game. We then celebrated our magazine at midnight, kept on drinking, and then moved to a close by gay bar where we proceeded to meet every person in the bar. It was an amazing New Years Arrival and one of the best I have ever had. Now, four days later, I am still living on top of the world knowing how great 2011 will be.

Happy New Years to Everyone!!!

The Shortest Day of the Year

2010-12-21T18:50:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't take inventory of this sort of thing. the first day of winte is the shortest day of the year. This day kills me because I need the day. Given, I am a secret night owl, in my twenties, I bcame in love with the sun and the poosibility of getting things accomplished in it while living. That sounds extremely drawn out and deep but it actually quite simple and on this day, I take in the day as much as possible. This year however, when we are in the middle of the largest rain storm of the decade on Los Angeles, I ended up taking a three hour nap. The upside to this is now, until June 21st, the days will continue to get longer. That makes me happy. With that said......

Have you ever noticed the similarities in these two videos?

The first song is Rumors by Lindsay Lohan. I love it and will always push my way to the dance floor anytime it comes on. I will be ninety-five years old, with my walker, running to dance to this song. This was Lindsay's first big hit in rellion to the media following up on her rebellious ways.

The second one is the new song from Miley Cyrus, Can't Be Tamed. It has the same sort of story and also has a bird cage in it. I actually really love this video. It was done terrificlly and whom ever choreographed it did a great job.

Well, that is my Lindsay/Miley challange. I hope you enjoyed thinking about meaningless jargon for a few minutes. Now, here is my latest favorite song. Fight For You by Morgan Page.

December

2010-12-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

So I am in the understanding that today is December 13th. Going outside here in Los Angeles, one wouldn't think so because it has been it the eighties the last few days. So, yesterday I took a walk through Hollywood and took some pictures. Here are some of my favorites. They stick out to me.

Happy Thanksgiving.... a little late

2010-11-29T20:58:00.000-08:00

I have been an absolutley horrible blogger. I have been extremely busy. Here is why.....

http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=61&Itemid=320 It's our Holiday Gift Guide. You will absolutely love it.
I have also been busy putting together our gift guide and new magazine... here is that link

http://http//www.dign2it.com/mag/

AND HERE IS MY BABY..... I started a project that I am now introducing to the public but not completely beginning until February.

http://projectkinect.com/

And now here is a little holiday song...

The Importance of Speech and Language

2010-11-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

I finally got a chance to watch the new Tyler Perry film "For Colored Girls" which is adapted from the Tony award winning play written by Ntozake Shange. Going into this movie, I was little terrified that the language would be lost and the richness of the speech would not be the main event. Man was I wrong? The cast of extremely talented actress took control and didn't the the language get dropped one bit. One of my favorite scenes, performed by Macy Gray, even came through with the beauty and eloquence that it deserved and was owed. This definitely needs to be seen by anyone who is in love with speech.

This movie gave me inspiration today, as well as this. This is a link to my friend Danielle's website. She is a talented new photographer who I take pleasure in knowing her before she s enveloped by National Geographic. Take a moment to look at her pictures and let her inspire you.
http://http://daniellevick.com

A Mench

2010-11-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

Today I was called a mench. At first, I thought, "Listen here lady, I'm bending backwards to help you and you're calling me names" Then, she told me the definition of what a mench is. This is the Urban Dictionary definition: A German word which, in Yiddish, means "a good person". A mench is a particularly good person with the qualities one would hope for in a dear friend or trusted colleague; a gentleman.

Here is the website if you're interested. http://http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mench This was an extremely highlight to my day, especially coming from a complete stranger. I know this makes it about me my ego, but sometime we all need this for ourselves. Good night everyone.

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Monday Monday Monday

2010-11-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

I don't have too much to say on what has been one of the most exhausting Mondays of my life, but here is a couple songs to give you a bridge through your day. I hope you all go to bed with smiles on your faces.

Seattle, on a Saturday Morning

2010-11-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here, at Tully's coffee, on a Saturday morning. The fall colors are all out, and the clouds are covering the city like a blanket. It's reminding me of fall back home. Those low pressured Saturday morning's where anything was possible and the idea of perfection in the slightest of detail was there. This morning is definitely that same idea.

When living in the city of Los Angles, one tends to forget that everything doesn't have to be so high pressured. We think that everything takes work and to just relax, even though we do, is more of a reward than it really is. Time is money and you had better be earning it. In addition to this, we think that every where else is just like high pressured Los Angeles. Well it isn't.

As I'm sitting in this coffee shop in Seattle on this dank, murky and fantastic morning, I'm reminded that other cities have their own personalities, their own quirks and maybe, we need the time to try on each city as if we were shopping for a new pair of pants. Just because it says it is a thirty two waist, does not mean that it will actually fit you. I look at the other cities that I have spent time in, now reminded that life isn't as fast as suggested, and I realize that I never became so full of anxiety in those other cities as I do in L.A.

Well, right now though, this is about Seattle, so I'm going to get a refill on my coffee, enjoy the rain, and gaze into the eyes of this city for a bit.

Ms. Holly Ace

2010-11-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today is one of my closest friends, Ms. Holly Ace's birthday. We met ions ago but didn't officially become friends until the summer of 2001. Since then, she has become my touring one woman show. I have a unique quirky side to me that everyone see's and gets to be enertained by, but with Holly, it comes magnified. If you listen to my show, The Dina and Gregg Show, you get to hear Dina and I get going and its becomes entertaining and yu feel that you are apart of the team, the show. When Holly and I get going, you feel like you paid for a show and you're gonna be pissed off if there's no encore because this shit is funny.

Besides being extremely hilarious and witty, Holly is ridiculously smart and she'll never really own up to it. She is the mother of two gorgeous children and has another on the way. Beauty is embodied in her and that combined with her charm is possibly the most powerful thing in life. When anyone has those two things going for them, they can sometimes be unstopable.

Like all of us, Holly knows failure and defeat, bu she is strong and stubourn and aways provails and I can't wait to see what she does in the next 365 days until her next birthday.

Here are a bunch of things that remind me of Holly and will puts smiles on all of your faces. Good night.

Voting Day

2010-11-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

Today across this country is voting day. That is the most powerful day of our year and makes us who we are as a country. There is though, an unfortunate problem. We are all rushing to voting polls to vote and we don't know half of what or whom we are voting for. Americans have gotten the motivation to go into that little booth and vote, and maybe read a little background to the different candidates, but what about the propositions, the amendments, the small changes? Where is that money coming from? Who is donating the money to those causes and why are they donating that money? We as a people aren't motivated to dig that far and, if we are, who has the time to drudge through all of the rubbish to find the bottom line. I know I don't. So, then, after we do what we can to prepare, and become overwhelmed with the barrage of ad campaigning(which is everywhere now i.e. facebook, hulu, youtube)we put trust in one candidate, in one cause and toss it into the wind with a hope of a promise.

It's getting more difficult day to day to take these people and their causes with the belief, trust, and open mindedness that they deserve. I am searching for the good in man these days and am not finding it in our government system as abundantly as we are told it is. I sometimes feel like I'm eight years old again looking in the Highlights magazine at their picture search and cannot find the baseball bat. Where's the baseball bat?

I just want to end this blog with one of my favorite ad campaigns of this wonderful voting season. This comes from the state of Nevada, from the fantastic Tea Party candidate Sharron Angle. After this video aired, she told a reporter that it wasn't focused on any particular demographic and that she herself could easily be mistaken for Asian. I love our modern political wit. Happy Voting everyone. At least we have each other.

Waiting for Supreman

2010-10-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

I finally got a chance to see the movie "Waiting for Superman" today and it was beyond what I thought it would be. My awareness has definitely been heightened by what is happening in our countries education system right now. Part of the movie discussed how even in our normal public schools, students are separated into categories that are focused on where they are going in their future. I look at my elementary education and see exactly what was being discussed in the film. After fourth grade, my class of nine were transported to a city about twenty miles aways so we could finish our elementary education. When we got there, we were all separated into different homerooms and different levels of core classes. We all understood that there were reasons why we were in these different classes together but we never actually understood where that stems from. This movie open my eyes to that. Thankfully though, I was blessed with amazing teachers all along the way who fostered my own curiosity and desire to learn. With the combination of them and excellent parenting, I was able to hurdle over many obstacles.

And now I will leave you with an added little Halloween bonus. Have a great Halloween everyone.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T17:00:00.001-07:00

Lets start this Halloween post off with one of the all time classic American Halloween traditions. Micheal Jackson's Thriller.

Story Corps

2010-10-26T20:16:00.001-07:00

I'm extremely into knowing other people's stories these lately. One of the ways that I've been indulging in this is storycorps.org. Check it out and take a moment to hear someone else's story. It is truly amazing to hear what strangers have to say. Even if we don't learn something, we will definitely be entertained.
http://http://storycorps.org

Cumbre Nortena and My New Husband

2010-10-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

When I was flying to Rachel's wedding on Thursday night, I sat next to this very attractive man who began chatting with me. Later, towards the end of the flight, we stared talking about what we both did back in Los Angeles. He happens to be in this band right here..... He's the bass player. And he is gorgeous.... and talented. Well, that's my story for a Tuesday night.

An Old Song for a New Time

2010-10-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

This came on the music while I was flying this weekend. I love this song and it was a great addition to a perfect weekend

Coming out and Rachel's wedding

2010-10-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

The first person that I came out to was my friend Rachel. I had been living in Vegas for not even 3 months and I was getting my first visitors. Rachel, Janet, Steve and a few others from home were on their way out to see me and I was a nervous wreck. I had no idea what I would do in my new surroundings and would I have changed so much in my realization of liking men that I’d slip up and they’d go home wondering why the hell they decided to visit a gay boy? I wasn’t sure what would happen but I did no I had a plan, and that was to keep my new secret a secret and do what I would later hear from one of my acting coaches; “Butch it up!”
Well, we were having an absolutely great time, seeing a ton of things, pushing time limits, staying out till the sun came up and then I blew my plan. Rachel and I decided that we were going to just have a nice dinner, the two of us, and in the middle of conversation walking to the restaurant, I spilled my news. She of course was so excited and it was completely opposite of what I was expecting but it was great. Then, because of her, I realized that being gay wasn’t going to change my life, just add to it. Being gay is just a small part of who I am.

Rachel got married this weekend to a wonderful, caring, loving man. Here are some of the pictures from their wedding.

Doing Nothing

2010-10-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

I was watching this Janet Jackson video and it just amazed me how people just don't hang out. Maybe it's adulthood, but even though, we always have an agenda. We're either meeting for lunch, to talk about something specific, or have something planned immediately afterward that moves us to depart and go on with our day. This is not necessarily a bad thing, I just miss that doing nothing feeling.

I got home from work this afternoon, it was raining, and I just wanted to accomplish nothing. I just wanted to sit and watch a movie so I thought, revisit my old favorite "Empire Records". Again, this movie is a great reminder of how in our youth, we just hung out. No agenda, no purpose and no goal needing to be obtained; just company of friends and the possibility of anything.

I'm ending this blog with the video from The The which is featured at the end of the movie. It's a great little feel good song.

Where is Conversation Going?

2010-10-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the art of conversation, or the lack there of. The Victorians would sit in the Parlor. In the fifties, they would take their coffee in the sitting room and in the eighties, the coffee house. Today conversation is not an art, but more of an extinct activity like kick the can or red rover.
Yesterday I had a wonderful morning with my friend Donna. Donna is an extremely active senior and I use the term senior loosely because she does not act, look, or personify in any way what our society would have us think a senior any age over seventy years old should act like. We went to a movie and spent the rest of the morning laughing, eating and talking. We miss so much in each other when we don’t have that part of communication. The part when there is no pressure, no time constraints, just talking, listening, and enjoying the company of other people around you.
Unfortunately the art of conversation is easily diffused and can quickly be replaced with texting, email, facebook, and a list a mile long of other ways to communicate with one another. This amazes me because we want to connect with one another. That’s why we’re so addicted to reality television, tabloid magazines, and just knowing other people’s business. We are a pack, a herd, a gaggle and we need that human connection more than ever.
I find myself getting into more conversations lately than I have in the last ten years. I know it makes me better. Not just socially but emotionally because I was there for another person, and listened to their story and they’re listening to mine. It’s like free therapy but more intimate. Each one of our stories are extremely important because that is what makes us alive. We need to listen and be heard because that is how we relate to one another.
I acknowledge the relevance of the media, and of new technologically based social networks, but we still need that lean in, the smile back, the “oh my god, really?”, and the laughter. I would challenge everyone to at least once a day, ask someone how they’re doing and ask for the real answer and then listen. What would that do for the both of you? Maybe ask someone what they were listening to on the way to work that morning. How would that small conversation evolve and change your lives? I guess the challenge is even more simple than that, just push someone a little to talk and that will produce conversation. Just know that we have the time to do it. Regardless of what our daily lives say, time doesn’t cost money and time will only go away when we do.

Oh Tyler Perry

2010-10-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

I love all things Tyler Perry. I think that he is a fantastic film maker who is overlooked for his phenomenal way of letting us look at an example of part of our modern condition. He is able to show slices of life in such a well rounded way that we only take it for entertainment when in all actuality, he has given us a message and a view of someone real that we would have never seen before. This is his next movie to come up and I believe it will be his best one yet.

It's October 15th

2010-10-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Where have these last 2 months gone? I am just boggled that one day, I was making the conscious decision to just relax for an entire day and then it was the beginning of October..... That's not good. Well, I have to go take some promotional pictures for Hottalkla.com. I will later be adding more but for the moment, I want to point out this new campaign that is coinciding with the No H8 campaign. Here is the video. OK, have a great day. You'll read more later but to give you a little tease. I cut off all my hair, have a new Dina and Gregg Show video coming up and an exciting new project.

Hot Los Angeles

2010-09-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

It’s been extremely hot in Los Angeles the last couple days. Not just hot, but dry, angry desert heat that I haven’t felt since I lived in Las Vegas. Being LA though, this is extremely abnormal and feels more like the hot days in July and August back home when you can hear the heat in the power lines. Where the air is thick and the weather person on the news cast talks of the heat index. Those days, where your parents tell you to be in by 10am because it is just too hot to play outside.

Well, while I sit in my bed writing this at a little before nine in the morning, that is what I am reminded of; Those days because I have the air conditioning going constantly and water right beside me. I always thought of those days as snow days in the summer because the only thing you can do is sit inside, watch movies, clean, or bake. When the oven goes on, the air gets turned up even more. I don’t even want to mention the horrible habit, yet love, of turning the air up so you can curl up in a blanket. Yes, it is such a waste of energy but once in a while, it just feels too amazing. Take a nap, watch a movie, talk on the phone: Everything we don’t have time for in our everyday lives. Somehow though, I now sound like a teenage girl. Oh well.

Catfish

2010-09-28T11:48:00.001-07:00

I went and saw Catfish yesterday. I went in thinking that it may possibly be a scary film, similar to Paranormal Activity which came out last summer. It is completely not even close to a horror film. I find it better going into the film knowing this because it will make it easier to focus. It really is a great film that shows how our technology can be a vehicle for so much more than what we use it for, being for the good or bad. The movie also shares a great example of how we really are in need of human connection. That connection that is being missed completely every day and even though we don't acknowledge we are missing it, we desire it and yearn for it.

Large Changes

2010-09-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

I'm contemplating the idea of dropping everything, my job, life in LA, my podcast, to travel the country by car getting to know our beautiful country a little bit closer. I don't have focus in my life at all. I am just going day to day living through the actions, just as a cardboard cut-out that is suppose to do these actions every day. Well, that has never been me, and it really just doesn't work well for me. I'm not depressed right now, not dead inside, nor walking around asleep. I'm fully conscious that this is happening, I just feel antsy and that I'm not living to my full potential.
I realize that I am at a point right now that bills are paid, there is no commitment for where I am living, and my relationships in Los Angeles are strong enough that I don't have to live so close to these amazing people. I'm not committed solely to another man, and have no children at the time, so why not take on this adventure? It sounds like something that will be a challenge to me and not something that will just come along easily. It will take work, commitment, and a lot of patients. I will have to have some strict boundaries for this journey so I stay on point as well as am not falling into old patterns.

Well there's a little sharing about what may be next. If you read this, please leave a comment. I'm anxious to hear what others may be thinking about this.

This Old School House in Lyndon Station

2010-09-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about my hometown lately. For those of you who haven’t ever heard me talk about where I grew up, here is the synopsis. The name of my hometown is Lyndon Station. It sits about an hour north of Madison, and is ten miles north of the famous Wisconsin Dells. It’s a tiny little blip of a town with about four hundred and fifty people. It has a general store, a gas station, 2 churches, a park, a hardware store bank and post office. It has 2 trailer parks, one of which I called my home for 16 years, and some of the best, most kind people you could ever meet. I was blessed to grow up there and learn everything that I did in my youth for having grown up in such a wonderful small village.
The reason I began thinking about home was because something I heard on NPR a couple days ago. They were talking about the age of school houses and how our education system has become what it is now. For me, school houses aren’t something unknown in history. When I was in elementary school, I was actually in a school house. Until 1989, students in Lyndon Station were still using a 2 story school house. I spent some time searching the Internet for any pictures that might still be out there of it but unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. So, in the fashion of writing, I will paint you a picture with words.
When you walked through the double doors, you has a small vestibule, and then another set of double doors. This school was completely reciprocate, so on the back of the school, you had the same doors, which then, after you walked through the second set of doors, were stairs. The stairs to the right went up to the bathrooms, 3 classrooms and library. The stairs to the left went downstairs to the cafeteria, small gymnasium and the boiler room.
When you got to the top of the stairs, there were hooks along the sides of the wide hallway for coats and bags. The bathrooms were here, with the women’s on the left, and the men’s on the right. Then, after those, were the classrooms. On the right, next to the men’s room, was the 3rd and 4th grade classroom. At that time, Mrs. Wolfgram was teaching those grades. I unfortunately don’t remember her too well. I remember her pushing me though, to get my homework done and complete and trust that I know and will retain what I learned.
Across the hall was the 1st and second grade classroom. That was Mr. Ingels and he was one of those teachers that really encouraged me and made sure that I knew it was great that I loved learning things. He would always say, “Now that you know that, what can you do with it?”
The other two rooms upstairs were the library, where I practically memorized every book on frogs, and the kindergarten room, where I had my first kiss from Erin Hall. Right behind the barn that Mrs. Kramer somehow fit in the room. I saw Mrs. Kramer when I graduated high school. Her daughter was one of my friends and fellow students and the day we graduated, I realized that Amy had that same beautiful kindness that her mother had which I remember still from the first day of kindergarten.
Downstairs was the cafeteria that Betty, Erin’s Grandma, would serve us lunch. Berta would help her and it was always the best food ever. She only had to cook for at the most, 50 people a day, so she would always make it extra special. When I got to middle school in Mauston, I remember my extreme disappointment when lunch came that first day. Erin, Ryan, Jessica, Josh and I sat there looking at our trays just thinking, what is this and where is Betty?
The other room in the basement was our gymnasium with the boiler room off of it. The gym was small, with low ceilings so when we played basketball, we were rockstars. The boiler room was only notable for one reason, it’s where we learned that our teachers smoked. Teachers weren’t suppose to smoke. It was like finding out that there is no Santa Claus.
Well, that was where I went to school for four years. Our little school house, with the large no screened window that tilted outward and one could easily jump out of. The little school house that had a great old fashioned jungle gym in the back. Its so funny how we don’t really think of these significant markers in our lives but then with a little trigger, we unleash an ocean of memories.
I couldn’t find the school house, but here are a couple pictures from my hometown. I hope this made you think about where you come from and the reason that you may treasure it.

Waiting for Superman

2010-09-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

I saw this trailer a while ago but then came across it again today. Twice. Thought that it was definitely worth posting and is a needed wake up call. Just the trailer inspires me so I can't imagine what the movie will do. Well, you decide and tell me what you think. The one thing that I can add though is that while you watch this trailer, think of the amazing teachers that touched you and inspired you.

Huffington Post Article on LGBT University Students

2010-09-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

I came across this and just thought it was a good little read. We have to remind ourselves that even though we're getting further on different human rights, we still have a ways to go. It also reminds us that issues still come up in venues that we don't necessarily focus on.

http://http//www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/15/lgbt-students-harassed-at_n_717992.html

RIP Houlihan's Wisconsin Dells

2010-09-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

This last week I got some news of Houlihan’s, a restaurant where I spent a good portion of my adult life, has closed down. Obviously, anyone who has spent more than five minutes in the restaurant business knows that concepts come and go and the consumer wants change. With that said, a large group of us still feel a loss because we became adults there. I began as a bartender at Houlihan’s the summer ’09. I was nineteen years old, hadn’t a clue of who I was, and thought that it was time to actually learn how to serve and bartend. How was I to know that this experience would change who I was, how I let people into my life, and teach me the survival skills that would make me who I am the rest of my motivated life?

I was with the company on and off until I was 27. I have done everything for them and am eternally grateful to the ownership and upper management for giving me the experience and the guidance. Not only did I receive all that, but I have to this date, a very supportive family and group of friends because of it. I am a firm believer that greatness attracts other greatness and that is exactly what happened. In the few years to follow me being hired at Houlihans, a plethora of great people joined our team, not to mention the ones who were already there, and those people became my family. When I look at my inner circle of friends today, those people make up over half of my inner circle. Something was done correctly in the universe if my soul crossed paths with all of those extremely beautiful people in those years. That is something to be happy about.

Here is just one of the many triggers I have that rush a million memories at me.

Just a Monday

2010-09-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was in my pajamas until 6pm. Yes, me, who gets up, makes his bed and jumps into the shower, was in his pj's until the early evening and it felt marvelous. My one outcome of this though, especially as I begin putting together this next life project is, Do I have completely too much time to dwell on myself? With all that time dwelling on myself, maybe some of it should be more focused on the bigger picture? Either way, its just a thought..... Now here is some music.

2010-09-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I finished up with work and decided to take my camera for a walk. This gave me a great opportunity to take a walking tour of Slilverlake. This is a very mystical part of Los Angeles that I have frequented often but have never quite taken the time get to know personally. On this particular afternoon, my good friend Micheal was available and he went with me. It really was a great afternoon. Here are some of my favorite shots from that shoot.

Our latest Show

2010-09-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

So I have been the worst blogger. This weekend though, I will get everyone all caught up. 1st of all, here is our new show.

http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=61&Itemid=320

Travel for free

2010-08-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

I came across this article that happens to be going right along with what is going on in my head right now. Food for thought.

http://http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-travel-for-free/

How much education???

2010-08-26T09:32:00.001-07:00

Something that has come up around me lately is the question of how much education is enough education? I know it seams like a no brainer, being that we will always be educated. Not a day goes by where we don 't learn something new and add it to our lives. Even if we are house bound and the only thing that we have to connect us to the outer world is our television, we still will learn something new.
The focus that I'm asking though is in formal education. The reason this is my topic on this beautiful Thursday morning is in response to an article I read in the NY Times today. It looks at continued education at the middle aged and elderly stand point. Is there room for it in our education system. Well of course it is. Not only does it generate income for the universities, but everyone of all ages want to feel that they are bettering themselves. This doesn't even begin to focus on the social aspect that a classroom setting gives to this group of individuals that would not normally be surrounded by other focused, inspired students. Here is the link to the article if you have any further interest in it.
http://http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/education/26HUMANITIES.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

A morning of whateva!!!

2010-08-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke to a feeling of whateva. What is this you ask? It is that feeling that your world could be falling apart, the house could be burning down, your spouse could be screaming at you and your response is, "whateva".

This is not a way that I normally feel. My psyche has usually already made me a list of things that have to get done before I even awake, and my anxiety has usually crept up on me with in moments of waking, but today was not that case.

I woke at 6:30am, and then went back to bed and slept for another hour. No damage was done, and nothing groundbreaking happened, I just slept. So, how do we hold onto the "Whateva" feeling. My conclusion is we don't. We appreciate that it has happen, invest a little time into seeing how we could have more of them, and move one. I'm already still a pretty relaxed person once I've been awake for a while. Its only the first hour really where I feel the anxiety but today, all I have to say is whateva!

Uncharacteristically Subliminal

2010-08-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today as I was driving home, minding my own business, aligning my afternoon agenda in my head and I happened to notice a billboard a little differently than I had every other time I’ve seen it over the last three weeks. Today, as I looked up at this Levi Jeans ad on this billboard at the corner of La Brea and Beverly, I took note of what the fuzzy background was: a campfire. Then, as I looked closer, I realized that it was not a woman pushing a man but it was actually a man pushing a man. The slogan on the billboard reads “There is a lot of work to get done, and undone” What?

This is in Los Angeles, practically in West Hollywood, where it is culturally acceptable to throw images of gay men and women out there for the public to view. Why is this particular campaign so sneaky about it? It isn’t like a few years ago when Dolce n Gabbana had their spring underwear photographs that strategically placed all these half naked men in uncompromising positions. The D&G campaign could easily fool an unsuspecting metro-sexual male from some small city in the Midwest into making the mistake that the ad as truly just an underwear ad. He may think,” I need this underwear so I can be attractive like these men” as the bandwagon technique of advertising would want us to do.

The difference between these two ads is that any gay man would see the D&G ad and immediately notice the pile of naked men a mile high reminding them of last Saturday night. The Levi ad, not so much! The question I throw at the advertising firms of this new decade is, what would happen if there was a little more wit thrown into these ads such as the Levi billboard? I feel that it makes me, as a consumer, regarded as someone who has higher intelligence to figure this out, as well as the feeling that the advertisement is panhandling to a different class of consumers. Somewhat like a witty sophistication or better yet, a trickster hipster campaign. You fooled me, so maybe I will buy your product.

A little lift

2010-08-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I awoke from a nap and felt like the entire world had been sitting on me while I slept. I was seriously numb. Today I woke up and was terribly ill. In the line of work that pays my bills right now, I have to wake up terribly early and can't always get out of my shift even though I really need to just take care of myself.

Taking care of myself is something I've never been very good at and I work at it constantly every day to try and make sure I am good before I move on to helping others because bottom line: We cannot help others if we're not good ourselves.

As always lately, I don't have a ton of time to give to my blog, but here are a couple things. First is the link to our latest show.

http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/media/dinaandgregg/playlist/Dina_n_Gregg-Show019_08-16-10.mp3

Next is another sample of "I Have Three Kinds of Hiccups" It hasn't been edited too much, but I wanted to appease to my friends, family and fans who have been wanting to read a little more. Thank you all for being so great!

It must have been how Dorothy first felt when she arrived. Strange people, singing, speaking their own language, doing odd little dances. This feeling of being completely lost wondering, “I don’t remember getting my passport stamped.” For Dorothy, this place was OZ. For me, this place was The Cheesecake Factory and instead of Munchkins, I had gay boys. I guess you could call them gaynchkins.
There I was minding my own business, writing out a re-fire ticket for a Chicken Madeira that my table was waiting on and all of a sudden from behind me, “S.O.S. Please someone help me.” Was Rihanna here, back in the server line with me? Nope, it was Pierre and his parade of gay. This was the norm at my new found place of employment and how was I to know that it would be an education as powerful as the one I received in Los Vegas.
In Los Vegas, I didn’t become adapt to having gay friends. I had gay friends, but not many. Until I got to L.A., I was still the gay boy submerged in with all of the heterosexuals, but now, that I was among only gay men, I had to get acclimated. This not only meant making friends with them, but making the attempt to not sleep with them or judge them right away so that they still want to be your friend after the initial meeting. I was a total lost soul. I know it seems like it should be simple, especially coming from me who is great with mostly everyone, but it was hard. Not in a good way.
I shut down completely at first. A blessing was Christina. She moved to L.A. with me and transferred into the same restaurant that I was working in. She was not shutting down at all because for her, nothing had changed. So, while I was quite learning a new job, she was meeting everyone and telling me about them when we would go out at night.

And Finally, here is a song for everyone to hit play, and get you moving into the rest of your day or night. It just has that feeling that makes me want to dance and smile. Life really is fantastic. Good night everyone!!!

Prop 8 and a new show

2010-08-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, gay men and women can begin to get married, again, on Monday.

So far, this is my favorite article. It's from the Huffington Post.

http://http//www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/12/proposition-8-stay-upheld_n_680441.html

And now, our new show....... I'll write a bit more later on a new thought I had. Its on the there being a fine line between something being challenging, and something being aggravating.

http://http://www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=61&Itemid=320

Another early night

2010-08-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

It's about 8:30pm, and its about time I that I have to go to bed. I have early shifts this week that require me to get up at 3:00am. I did see a couple things today though that have some interest of mine that I thought I would share.

The first is a cartoon that I found in the New York Times after I started writing a new play. First, I'm going to just give you the beginning two paragraphs of my new play, and then I will attach the cartoon. It is so funny how they parallel.

Man
I think the biggest problem with the world today isn’t homelessness, it isn’t the deficit. Hell, it isn’t even the homosexuals….. What it is, is the fact that we, as humans, are getting further and further apart from each other mentally and emotionally, yet we are getting closer and closer together physically.
Now, I don’t mean physically as in bodies sweating naked in lust; I mean, we are actually getting so close to each other, that you can start driving in Pismo Beach California, and the only time you see just space between there and Tijuana is Camp Pendleton. That is so many people, so close to each other and all them have a cell phone, and a laptop, and are on email, facebook, IMing….
That is the problem, we have our little worlds out there in cyberspace, that we don’t have our physical worlds happening consciously. I was sitting in the bank yesterday and thought, as I was waiting to get my money from the attendant, “what would happen if the power went out? All these people in here would have no clue what to do” But really, everyone at the ATM would have to come inside, all the people who are avoiding others by being on their phone, tweeting, emailing, talking, would have to actually digest the people around them and maybe hold a conversation with these strangers. At the least they would have to say, “What do you think happened?”

Prop 8 has been one of the largest controversies here in California over the last year and the state will finally be making a decision on it tomorrow. Here is a youtube interview from towlroad.com that has some information and below it is the direct link to the article.

http://http//www.towleroad.com/2010/08/proposition-8-decision-coming-tomorrow.html

And last, there is a new Dina and Gregg Show....... Here it is everyone. Have a great night and look forward to our newest addition to hottalkla.com Dina and Gregg Off the Mic.

http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=61&Itemid=320

A new look

2010-08-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry if I'm throwing everyone off with the look of tookpotter.com right now. I just am playing with some looks to see what the website may be turning into. Since it is still attached to my blog, it's a great chance to experiment.
So, I just want to throw a couple things at you on this Sunday night. It has been a great yet very active weekend and I am looking forward to True Blood in just a little bit. I will definitely take some time tomorrow to catch you up on the weekend, as well as I hope you're looking forward to some new samples of "I Have 3 Kinds of Hiccups" as well as a couple samples of new projects I have in the works. Not to mention, a new Dina and Gregg show, with a fantastic new contest as well as the all new "Off the Mic with Dina and Gregg" Its going to be an amazing week.
So, the first post I want on this Sunday evening is the latest Dina and Gregg video. It is a promotional video for Dina's Boobie Bank.... Here you go!

The next thing I saw today was this article in the Huffington Post. It originally was published on Thursday but had more influence today and was revised. It is a great example of how all of our culture is changing and being influenced. We have to be reminded that social change is happening all over the globe. We assume it is, but we have to be conscience to it. http://http//www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/31/catholic-patriarch-blasts_n_665720.html

The final topic that I am bringing up tonight is something I am so proud of. One of my closest friends from college, Holly Lynn, is a finalist with her fiance Allison for a wedding at http://http//freedom2wed.com/vote/. Voting begins today and goes through September 30th. I am asking all Dina and Gregg Show listeners to vote, as well as all of my tookpotter followers. The Dina and Gregg Show is holding a contest though and it is a scavenger hunt. Please make sure you know all of the rules before voting for Holly and Allison because part of the scavenger hunt deals with you voting for them. Regardless of it all though, these are two very special women in my life and being able to help them win this is a huge deal to me. I am making it as easy as possible for you to vote for them by giving you the website(above) and now showing you their video. I will leave you for the night, with the two of them talking about love. I'm warning you, it may choke you up a bit. Sweet dreams everyone!

On and on... the continuation of being off work on a random Friday

2010-07-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Time for an update on my day. I stopped into work to meet some friends for lunch, and then came and hid over in Los Feliz to get some more work done and see a movie. I'm going to finally see "The Kids are Alright" If you haven't heard of it, or forgot what it is, here is the trailer for you to get acquainted. I posted it before, but it definitely deserves a re-post.

But first, lets take a moment and talk about how Dina and Gregg got to go play on the set of The Cavanaughs a few weeks ago and now our episode is up. It is a project that Dina and I really enjoy and definitely respect its place in entertainment right now. If you haven't watched it yet, take a look. If you like what you see, definitely go to You Tube or their website(http://http//www.the-cavanaughs.com/), and see the rest of the show. Dina and I definitely come back later in the season.

And now, for your reading pleasure, is a new exert of "I Have 3 Kinds of Hiccups" I haven't given my readers any of it in a while and I figured its time to give you a little more nibble.... Talk to you soon!

There I was, laying down dead, in the parking lot outside of the Polo Towers off the strip in Las Vegas. That was the day I turned 23 and just earlier that week, the horrible song “Its your Birthday” by 50 Cent came out and that is all I was hearing everywhere. Especially while I was on the ground, waiting to figure out what my next move was.
The evening started off with a nice dinner at PF Changs, with Regan, Stella, Michael Murphy, Matt, my roommate Kati, George and some guy that Michael Murphy was seeing at the time. It was a great dinner, followed by a great show, Margeret Cho, and then somewhere it turned around and I had two Apple Martini’s in my hand, was flirting with an old flame Mikey, and was hollering at the President of the Gay Fraternity at UNLV because he was hitting on Angela but was clearly gay. However the situation really was that evening, this is the perspective that stays in my mind and probably will never be replaced.
Now, you ask, how did you end up on the ground Gregg? Well it’s very simple. I thought I was god and could fly! No, that wasn’t it, but it was close. I decided I was going to do barrel turns through the parking lot. At that moment, in my state of clarity, I was calling them wheel barrel turns; hence why I ended up on my back in the parking lot of the Polo Towers, and now, at age 30, still have this scar on my elbow from that moment. There I was, on the ground, drunk, trying to convince Matt, Angela, and Patrick that I fell on purpose and I could be a stunt double. Yep. Drunk!
A few weeks ago, I was home in Madison, WI, and went swimming in Lake Monona at bar time with some friends. When we got out, we then saw the high bacteria sign that stated no swimming was allowed at that beach. This didn’t bother me a bit when we first saw it, but once back in LA, working, with an itch on my elbow, I got extremely terrified. I thought that I had contracted some sort of worm from when we went swimming. I immediately called Allysa, asked if she had any ailments? Then, called Dina, told her I was coming over because I had a worm I needed her to look at. You know, seeing how she has soooo much experience in the medical field. She had her computer and Wi Fi. Together, I figured we could diagnose this from the Internet.
Well, needless to say, It only happened to be a bug bite, right on this u-shaped scar from my 23rd birthday. I was convinced that I had something growing under my skin. The part about it that adds to the irony of it is I am by all means, not even close to a hypochondriac. Just a gay boy freaked out by a bump on my elbow.
The point of this story is, no matter what age, we still think that we are invincible when lubricated with alcohol. Just ask my grandma!

The Act of Theatre in our Daily Lives

2010-07-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

I took off work today. Not so much because I have a doctor appointment in a while, and not so much that I am feeling ill, but to throw it out ito the world that this is how I want my actual life to be. I will always work extremel hard, no matter what I do with my life. That is a pure fact to who I am. Unfortunately though, I have difficulty letting go of this comfort idea, and the routine of doing what I have always done. The truth of it all is that isn't what I really want to do with my life at all. So, today is dedicated to throwing it out into the world that this, writng, creating, enpowering people, is truely what I want to be doing. My day is an example of what that may look like on a much larger scale so not only is it floating out there in the world as something concrete, but it is something to strive for. I'm pumped to see where this will all go. Part of me feels like I am on vacation, which is essentially how I feel life should be in the first place.
Have a great morning everyone. I'll keep you posted through the day and let you know what is happening.">

Another Day in LA

2010-07-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

The last couple weeks I've been in and out of a small funk. Nothing major or life changing, just a point of reference to make sure everything is in check. I've spent some time looking at my finances, my love life, my job, my career. It hasn't been an attempt to solve anything,but acknowledge that these are areas that need a little attention. This happens to all of us more and more as we get past the age of 25. We have the need to feel more secure in our decisions and where we are at in the scape of things. The unfortunate thing is that this tends to cause us to take less risks and that in not good in any aspect. It goes back to the basic idea of one life, better make the most of it.

I wanted to post a couple things that I saw in the news today. It is always good to keep things in check, or at least acknowledge that these things and people are out there.... Like Glenn Beck. Even though many of us just tune him out, we have to remember that many people do not and are very much influenced by him. Just like in this story.
http://http//www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-boehlert/glenn-becks-incendiary-an_b_660429.html

Also in The Huffington Post today was the story about the oil spill near Kalamazoo, MI. This is insane because there is so much oil in this spill and there are not enough resources to get it cleaned up. Needless to say all of the wildlife that is so Midwest specific and already in danger of loosing habitat.

And for now, I'll leave you with the latest Single Life with Sam Phillips. My lovely co-hostess found herself in the studio with them this last Friday and got some time with our friend Sam. As always, check out all the other great shows on Hottalkla.com. Have a great night!!!
http://http://www.hottalkla.com/htla/media/thesinglelife/playlist/TSL0725-BoysAreAway.mp3

Hello on a Monday night

2010-07-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

Well, its almost bed time but I want my readers to at least see a couple great things before I close my eyes for the night. The first thing is that we have a new show out. Here is the link... http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=61&Itemid=320

Also, check out one of my best friend's new albums..... Eating Alone's The Long Haul

you can find it on itunes at this address

http://http//itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-long-haul/id381581015

And now, I just want to leave you with this little history lesson from funnyordie.com....Its too funny and there is plenty more where this came from. Check it out for a great laugh

Drunk History Vol. 5 w/ Will Ferrell, Don Cheadle & Zooey Deschanel from Will Ferrell">

So much stuff

2010-07-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I feel the weight of not keeping up on my blog. There is so much going on and I'm not conveniently sharing it so that it is fun to read. Instead, I try to write down as much as possible at once and then inevitably forget stuff and overwhelm my readers. Well, I'm working on it. We'll see what comes from that.

The first thing that I have today is a news story from yesterday that didn't get as much attention as I would have hoped. It took place in Germany where there was a love festival. In this "Love Parade", 19 people lost their lives when panic arose in a tunnel and a stampede then followed. The festival will now be cancelled in the future. I don't know how I feel about this. Here is the link I found on the examiner.com.

http://http//www.examiner.com/x-40861-SF-Top-News-Examiner~y2010m7d25-German-Love-festival-death-toll-rises-Love-Parade-canceled

I have 2 more things to share before run off for the rest of the afternoon. The first is my new favorite dance song. You know, for at least the next 20 minutes. The final thing is the latest from the New York group, Improv Everywhere. I love their movement of theatre and feel that all theatre should portray the audience's sense of involvement that they give.

A Saturday Night In

2010-07-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

Its Saturday July 17th, and I am in, for no reason, I just ended up in the house. A shower of self pity came over me earlier, which is ridiculous, I know, but it did. I waited to blog until it was gone because I don't want that to take up space that I put my name on. I attached one of my favorite songs to the beginning of this entry to ensure that my earlier energy isn't attached.

This particular song, London Skies, by Jamie Cullum, is particularily close to my heart. It reminds me of one of my favorite time periods of my life. It was the latter end of the summer of 2008 and I was living with Alyssa. I was also working on the peir at the Edgewater in Madison, WI. I spent my days out on the lake taking care of people, and then at night, I was with brilliant, wonderful people who I loved being around. That was on the threshold of me making my triumphant return to Los Angeles. That was almost 2 years ago.

Since those care free days on the lake, much has changed. I would go in the general direction for the good though. One of the largest things of course would be The Dina and Gregg Show. We're going on a year strong. Here is a couple things to notice about it.

http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=61&Itemid=320

I am also thankful for my circle of friends. I of course, have my group of friends that I had from when I lived out here years ago, but I have made some other really great friends. I really am so lucky in that department of my life. Even with Jean and me, we have a beautiful apartment in Hancock Park and it is just a great space that I never really thought I would live in.

I have also been with my job for almost the entire 2 years. I've never been one to not hold onto a job. But I have stuck it through with them for a while now and one has to keep the question in mind of, where is it going? I still have the power and energy to climb up the coorperate ladder of course, but most likely no, I won't be doing that.

Any way, I am going to get back to some other writing so good night. Have a wonderful Saturday night. I promise, I won't make you wait this long in the future.

I'm going to leave you with music that I'm working to right now. The group Floetry came out a few years ago and never got the dues that they deserved. I loved them and still do. Their album is frequently heard in my home.

Just a Note on a Sunday Night

2010-07-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

These last two weeks have been a whirlwind of adventure, intrigue, and in my face reality of my life. I haven't written anything, my blog or anything else for that matter, because of it. I do know that for the last few days, I've been haunted by a sort of "shit spiral" that I can't shake off. As I get ready for bed tonight, and lay down to read a bit more about the phenomenal Eleanor Roosevelt, I will go to sleep confident that this short term phase is over. The truth is that not one horrible thing has happened to me in this time but precisely, the opposite has happened. I've had many things and ideas revealed to me as well as I've gotten to know myself even better. I haven't even began to comment on the advances in my career. I will share everything with you all tomorrow. I just needed to mention it tonight before I brush my teeth. Good night world.

So tired

2010-06-29T22:44:00.001-07:00

I've been so tired these last couple days because I'm still trying to catch up on sleep from an amazing weekend. I am so lucky and grateful for everything I have and yet, I just want to crawl into bed. I do want to say how entertaining today has been. I have had run ins with some great new friends, some great new people have been met, and I connected tonight on facebook with a couple old friends. I'm pretty lucky and now I'm off to bed. First though, I want to leave you with this great Paul Abdul video from the nineties. I heard it this last weekend and I forgot how much I loved it. I'll have the pictures up tomorrow from my trip. It was a fantastic trip.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GBqDN3lK6E&feature=PlayList&p=6E0C3C6D7A86894D&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=4

Every trip home gets heavier

2010-06-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

By this, I just mean that I am beginning this amazing day, here to celebrate Joe and Kristin, and I'm thinking how difficult it is to think that I will be back in LA on Monday. There just isn't enough time and It gets more difficult each time to say good bye. Any way, I'm off. I'm in the middle of a marathon...... well, metaphorically.

More about this new book

2010-06-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

I finished my movie today and was going to go write in Barnes & Noble. I decided not to stay, then thought I'd walk through the biography section but as I was walking, a kid ran through, I ran into the shelf and saw this book....... If I Live To Be 100 by Neenah Ellis. Now I can't put it down. Most of the time, we pick out a book but this book, it picked me.

Here is a couple other thinks I wanted to point out today..

The first is this article in the New York Times Magazine's interview with Eminem.... Its worth reading. http://http//www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/magazine/20fob-q4-t.html?src=smt3

The second is a little comedy from about 15 years ago. I was with a bunch of people this weekend and we got talking about these sketches

And Finally, here's an indulgent movie that I cannot wait for... Have a productive Monday everyone.

Lets talk about friends...well, a couple of them

2010-06-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been spent mostly in thought and as an observer. It’s been nice. I spend so much of my life as an active participant, even when observing, that a weekend like this was perfect. Much of it was spent thinking about my friends. Who are these people? Why is it that I am so lucky that they have been continuous players in my life and not just characters that play a part and are off. Trust me, there are many of those people, but a significant amount of them have come and stayed planted. Of course, I don’t see them or talk to them as often as I wish I could, but they are there and are felt. I can be candid with this because it is truth. When it comes to friends, I have been blessed: Seriously blessed.

This next weekend is another one of my closest friend’s weddings. This is the catalyst for this thought process in this time of observation. Not only have I been lucky to have him in my life for so long, but he’s been like my brother. He is the closest thing to a brother that I have besides my own brother, whom I cherish and love with my whole heart. This wedding though will be bringing together a group of people who I met twelve years ago and spent an amazing week in The Dominican Republic with January of 2000. One of these people though, has been extremely special to me since the day we met, and I am confident she feels the same. This brings me to the first major point of the weekends saturated observing. Some people are meant to be in your lives and if you didn’t meet when you did, you would have met at some later point!

I find this to be exactly true about Jen G. I was a freshman in the dorms at UW Eau Claire and my roommates and I decided to have a party. Well, of course it got busted and with all of the under aged drinking happening, tickets were being passed out like candy at Halloween. When one gets a drinking ticket in the dorm, one must take a class taught by the hall director. My class was full of the under agers who happened to be in my room that night. One of them was Jen G. and we began our friendship. We were fast friends and that winter break, I found myself in her home town meeting her family and friends; one of them being Joe, who’s wedding is next weekend. Well, we have been friends ever since and it’s as most great friendships, that if we don’t talk in a while, it doesn’t mean we’re not friends, it just means that we’re busy and life is happening. Now, fast forward 7 years after I had left UW Eau Claire.

I’m on the square in Madison, WI, at the farmer’s market, shopping with Alyssa. I find flowers for my mother, purchase them and move on with my morning around the square. In the middle of talking about my preparation to move back to Los Angeles, I get a poke on the shoulder. Not because someone saw me who knew me, but because they wanted the exact flowers that I bought and had been following me to possibly get them off of me.

As I turn around to see who it is, I realize that the face is familiar: It’s Jen G. This is proof that she was suppose to come into my life; If not in college, then here, on a Saturday morning, at the farmer’s market in Madison, WI. Life is so funny and we just forget sometimes that certain things were just meant to be. Jen was with her mother and grandmother and we laughed so hard at the situation. She didn’t get the flowers from me by the way.

The other idea that popped up in my mind is that a new sustainable friend sometime has a relevance to the change that is happening in your life. That seems obvious, but it is fantastic to take interest in the correlation that the two have. This is to be said with my wonderful siren Lindsay. When we met, I had just moved to LA for the first time, and had no clue what or where I was going from there.

I got home from work one evening, after waiting tables for 8 long hours at The Cheesecake Factory, and walked into a small group of people on my roommate Ryan’s bedroom floor, organizing receipts. Ryan had just finished a film and he was working on getting everything tax related organized for when January came. I chatted for a second and then volunteered to assist on this somewhat teidies process. Lindsay was one of those people, and that is how we met. It was an insignificant night, performing an insignificant task, where I was attempting to mop up all the knowledge I could from these young industry savvy beings. That was an evening that got my wheels turning to open my eyes to what else I could accomplish and an evening where I met someone who would be my friend for a very long time. I find it so unique on how some of the most influential people in our life are introduced so generically.

Well, I’m going to go back to reading my new book. It is called “If I live to be 100” and the author is Neenah Ellis. I haven’t put it down other than twice. Once to buy it and drive home and the second was so I could write this entry. Have a wonderful Sunday night everyone.

Smells

2010-06-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

We all know how certain smells bring us back to moments in our lives. Chocolate, rain on the hot black top, cow shit... Well, these last few days, I've been having so many memories come back with smells of my grandma's house.

Tonight we finished up recording the next Dina and Gregg Show and when we were leaving Rich and Sayra's house, it smelt like summer, sitting outside on the deck, at night at grandma's. A couple days ago I got home, and walked in my apartment and it smelt like grandma's house completely. I did my laundry last weekend and when I put it away, again grandmas'. I'm not sure if there is a chemical that is picking this stuff up, or something in my subconscious that needs that sense of self, but its there and it keeps coming out.

That is all I have for tonight. I just thought that I would share that. Keep in close touch with all of your senses. Our bodies are our indicators that we need something. We mustn't forget that. Good night.

Day 14....Acceptance

2010-06-16T10:38:00.001-07:00

This last weekend was Los Angeles Pride, its now Wednesday morning and I am now writing about what was suppose to be reported on Monday. I am acknowledging my lack of integrity on this and filing it for "in the past" and moving on. It's now, Wednesday, 10am and I am loving life.

There was a point during our live show on Saturday night that I realized I constantly look into the forward and do not accept what is happening in that moment. I discussed that in my last entry but that really was a huge eye opener. Live in the moment and anticipate what may come up in the future, but don't live in the future.

This journey hasn't given me any answers to what am I suppose to do. Or, my calling is this and I'll be happy when I get that. That wasn't expected in this endeavor. I wanted to get to know myself better was the bottom line and I did. I think I got much more acquainted with myself than I imagined. Here are some examples why.

My day job, which there are aspects that I love, also contains aspects that I despise and make me want to get out immediately. This two week trip has made my job a little more bearable and has reminded me that it is just one part of my life, but is part of my life. It isn't separate from or in addition to, it is part of it and I can change it at any time I choose.

Another way this journey has helped is with my finances. In my early twenties, I was not fiscally responsible and because of it, lack of money scares me tremendously(like most of us) but what has been unveiled to me now it that living with in your means doesn't mean living with out, we just have to me more specific and intelligent with our decisions and purchases. It goes along with needs and wants. What is absolutely necessary and what doesn't always have to be in our possession. This obviously stems further than finances though.

A key thing to getting the equilibrium right with our needs and wants, is that when they are met in us, even for just a moment, we get a piece of clarity and can accomplish greatness. That is where we are most accessible to inspiration. That is when we create.

On Sunday, when I got home, I was so exhausted from the weekend that there was no way I could finish this voyage. I then worked on Monday, got done, replied to all of my emails and called almost everyone back, but once I was done, I was done. I had to get some sleep. Then yesterday, very similar happenings but today, I woke up with the need of sleep and rejuvenation met. I got up, wanted coffee, and came to Peets. The want was then met. Now, with music in my ears (need) and energy (need), I am getting this done to a point where I am extremely proud of it. I am also inspired to get it done. Inspired by the June Gloom, inspired by everyone else around me working on their stuff, and inspired by the group of people that have been following me through this journey. You all are amazing people that have helped me through this more than you will ever know.

Just one quick note about inspiration though: It isn't always around and we discussed the importance of being able to have it on hand when none is around. Just ask, What inspires me?

Speaking of that, on Monday at work, one of you beautiful people who are following me made me realize something in life that has to happen while "life" is going. Fun, Gossip, the fruit of it all. The juiciness that entertains us. Before there was TMZ, movies, brothels, Roman fights, there was plain old gossip, and as long as it isn't in a malicious fashion, it is essential for us to keep going. That conversation with my friend made me realize this as a belief. That is what follows us in inspiration, beliefs. Once we're inspired, we are opened up to ourselves and can really see, with focus, what we believe in. With our beliefs, which can be changed at any time because we change, sometimes daily, we can hold ourselves accountable.

Beliefs are choices that allow us to measure life as it is happening. It can keep us in a direction or allow us to create a new path. We're lucky if we know what we believe because no one can take that away from us. It is just like our voice. No one can take those things away.

Beliefs not only hold us accountable, but they also keep our integrity in tact. The unfortunate thing with me losing time and ability in the final days of this was that I couldn't share more with you what I was putting on the line every day. Things that really meant something and had some weight. I did lose integrity with some of them but I acknowledged them, and then moved on because that is what we can do and that keeps us in the present; not in the past upset because we didn't keep our word.

The final thing is acceptance. Accepting that we are just human beings. We are people that mess up, that lose our way, that accomplish amazing things, and that love. My most valuable belief is in humans. I believe in people and that we always, even not if it is until the time of judgement, will do the right thing. We really don't want to harm other people, unfortunately its a battle that is inherited to us at the moment of birth. Deep down though, we want greatness for everyone.

Accept who you are, and what you can change. Accept that you can change if you want to but also accept that you, who is reading this right now, is absolutely beautiful just the way you are.

Thank you all for following me through this!!!

Days 11,12, and 13

2010-06-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

The thing that has been plugged into my head the last three days is condense and security. Not confidence in myself, well that always helps, but confidence in the idea of if you keep focused and in the direction you want to be going, be confident that you will get to where you're going. With security, its being secure that you're making the decisions you want and need and are inspired to make. If it doesn't work out, then you can make new decisions. Be secure and confident in what you're doing, when you're doing it, with the verve and passion you're doing it with.

The last few days have been phenomenal days. I have always loved the life I'm living, but in the last couple days, I'm really conscious of who I am, where I've been, and where I'm going. Day 14 will have a lot of detail in this, but what I can say before I run off to work more for Hot Talk LA at LA Pride is that when you begin to think forward on "whats next?" and "oh my god, I've got to get this done!", stop it and look at the moment you are living in that exact second. You'll never get that moment back again and if you're not living in it to enjoy it, then well one must think, how much of your life are you missing if you easily missed that second?

I love you all. Have a wonderful Sunday. I look forward to finishing up my 2 week journey tomorrow. Questions haven't quite been answered, but there is a whole lot of clarity.

Day 10..... not to much to add

2010-06-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

I came home after a long day and watched "The Blind Side" and found tons of inspiration. I also had just a great day. Not a lot of hoopla, and no parade, but just a good day. Here is something for you to laugh at though. Have a great night.

http://http//www.hottalkla.com/htla/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=25&Itemid=203

Day 9.... Integrity

2010-06-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you ever get a chance to ask a group of people to define integrity, you'll get an extremely diverse set of responses. A few will entail high upstanding morals. Some that include being honest and doing good. Well that really is all just rubbish. The bottom line of integrity is doing what you say. The dictionary adds the words "morale principles" but that is subjective to who or what is owning the integrity.

The integrity of my lungs is to breath and pass oxygen into my blood stream. The integrity of my patio door is to let light in, allow for air to come in the house and act as another entrance. It does this. Why is it that we as humans fail horribly at integrity? We do, to our loved ones, to our friends, and especially to ourselves.

In an earlier day, I mention my work with Landmark Education. Another one of the largest points that the organization makes is that without integrity, we can't get very far because we're unreliable. I agree very much with this idea, but mostly when it comes to ourselves.
When looking further into it, I suggest reading this exert from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The parts that I really suggest are sections #1 and #2 on Integrity as Self Integration and The Identity View of Integrity http://http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/integrity/

When I think about losing integrity in my life, I see the largest aspect is myself. I let myself down so much that it's scary. I do it so often that I don't even notice it. I, with a blink of the eye will change plans, will sleep in a little later than I originally said and not run, write, or call someone that I really wanted to speak to. This is a travesty because even though I still am there for others, I can never truly be there for them because I am not there for myself. Then, with that, I lose honesty with myself and trick me into being OK with these ideas, actions, commitments I failed on, for myself. I am putting myself last in so many aspects of life and as long as I continue to do that, I won't be in that great career, in that relationship with a man who is deeply in love with me and my future for anything contains no worth with this habit.

I happen to be an over analyser and also know myself well. Maybe a little too well because the realization of putting myself last isn't a new concept to me. It probably isn't a new concept to any of us, but now is when it has to resonate because now is when I am making this life choice to make sure I do what I say for myself. To do this, for this following week, I am going to begin the day by declaring something I am going to do that has some sense of importance to me that is beyond the basic, "I'm going to get to work on time" or "I'm going to eat healthy at dinner tonight". Don't get me wrong, those are extremely important but for the duration of this path, there must be a little on the line. The outcome of it has to measure up but still be reasonable. My first one will be I am going to submit to 5 new literary agents tomorrow!

There we go, something that weighs a bit, has purpose and can definitely has something on the line.

Once we make this daily declaration, throw it up against our beliefs, wants and needs. How does it look? Is it something that engulfs them or does it just not match. Then, after we've done what we've said, journal it somehow, whether it is in a journal, or just in a planner or a phone call to a friend. Make sure that doing this thing, no matter how small, is celebrated. What did it do for you? How did it make you feel?

Have a great night you amazing people.

Day 8, a day late

2010-06-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day of catch up. Catch up with work, catch up with sleep and digest everything that is happening with this journey. One of the best things about this two week process is that I've been able to connect with some amazing friends that I know extremely well but for some reason, don't always have conversations about pure passion and personal beliefs. These are people that I adore and I was able to listen to them discuss new things that I haven't ever knew about them. Maybe I knew this at one point in our relationships, but we all grow and evolve and those feelings and beliefs change.

I want to take a quick moment now, before we get into the next week and review what we have established so we can identify where we've come so far and where this next week is going.

On Day 1 I read the article talking about finding happiness in ones career. It worked as a catalyst for thought about how does the career set in our lives? What is the influence that it has on our lives and how do our lives impact our career? Are we fulfilled with it.

On Day 2 I was focused on commitment to this endeavor and recognition of what is going on in my life. In making recognition, I was being honest with myself and my life in order to grow and give myself direction. I began connecting with people who I felt really found passion in their life including their careers.

On Day 3 there was tremendous focus on opening up and self discovery. There was an investigation on areas of interest and wants for my life recently, consistently and in the past.

There was a final thought, at 5am, that I will not settle for mediocrity.

On Day 4 it was all about wants and needs. The difference between them and how to acknowledge them both in order to fulfill them both. These lists are important for when we begin to think about integrity, beliefs, and inspiration.

On Day 5 it turned out to be a great exercise on where does inspiration stem from? Once we find it, and how to access it when there is none to be found. We have to recognize that sometimes inspiration isn't around so that we are not surprised by this when it happens. We then can access it from other avenues that we are confident that contain it. This thought process also led to spirituality and the important role it plays in in our lives, not just for communion, finding balance and focus, but also inspiration.

On Day 6 I spent a lot of time observing and trialing my beliefs up to my observations. I also set up a model for how I really want my day to day routine to be. I made the most out of day 6 and saw all the wonderful aspects that I love in my life in it that are already there.

On Day 7 I focused on making my own personal list of beliefs. These are things that are not written in stone, if they don't work for me, I can make new beliefs, or add to these, but they are a way to keep my focus and hold myself accountable to what is going on with my wants and needs. This whole week, I was still connecting with people who I admired, and adding to my lists. Day 7 was also a day to compare my beliefs in my life. Not large events, but basic, every day choices.

There you have it, where I've (we've) come in a week. As we get into day 9, we will discuss accountability and integrity. Especially integrity with ourselves because as I go through this, I am noticing the one person that I keep letting down is myself. I do not do what I say I will do for myself. That makes me so........ well, we'll get into that on day 9.

Good Night everyone.

Day 7....Part 2

2010-06-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

Belief #3 Music makes everything better
*Music has the power to change a mood quickly and the ability to make diffusion have focus. It's something we can never forget. My mom and I have a unique bond with classic rock, and anytime I am a little down, she just says, "Go put on some Fleetwood Mac/Van Morrison/Heart/ect. and call me back in twenty minutes. Always better!

Belief #4 Sleep on it
*Sometimes you just have to let something sit for a conclusion or answer to appear. That's the truth.

So these are the beliefs that have come to mind while working on this. There may be more that come up, and I may not agree with one or all of these and may take them off. Since this is an exercise and there is no right or wrong answer, we can have it however we want. Now that I have some though, I am going to apply them to my list of wants and list of needs. How can these help this list? Does integrity play any particular role with the lists once my beliefs are added to them? Is there any clarity on how to obtain these items?

Before I say goodnight, I will tell you now what I will do with these. For the next week, while I am continuing to investigate myself and my surroundings, I'm going to constantly think about what I believe. In this, these ideas may change, but it will force me to hold myself accountable.

Tomorrow I will review the first seven days and talk about what my eyes have been opened up too. I will also talk a little about integrity and discuss how my day at work went while I applied my new declared beliefs.

Good night to you all. I hope your weekend was fantastic and you took care of yourself for a bit of it and were selfless for a different bit of it.

Day 7.... Part 1

2010-06-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, in San Diego for Christine and Garrett's wedding, we sat in the sun and drank beer for majority of the day before we moved onto Saki Bombs at dinner. Needles to say, I got extremely burnt. It was the most severe sun burn I have received since I was a teenager running around the water parks in Wisconsin Dells with no care in the world.
My point is, it happens to be a unique coincidence that this happened in this particular week because I am peeling on 85% of my body. The reason I am sharing this rather disgusting information is because of the metaphors that go around shedding. When a snake sheds it's skin, it is a sign that the animal is growing, is maturing, has a new skin underneath to reveal. When a dog or cat sheds it's fur, its the change of a season. In my case, it really is just a coincidence but a wonderful one that adds a physicality to what is going on in my life.
Last night I had Christine, Garrett, and Dina over for dinner, and through all of the fun that we had, we still got into conversation about hat is taking place in the four of us, as well as all of you following this 2 week journey. That doesn't even start to include the hundreds of thousands out there that are just sitting in limbo, waiting, searching and calculating what is next in their personal journeys.

Last nights conversation got me in the realization of my first belief for the rest of my life. Here it is declared...

Belief #1 Life is not meant to be separated into segments. It is one flowing movement that cannot be compartmentalized as much as we like to think.
*So, this is mostly focused on work vs life. But it can easily get added to the
rest of our lives. Work and life does not have to be segregated. Why would we want to
have that separate when we spend so much time of our life at work? I do realize that there
needs to be a separation between work and personal life when it comes to actual job
functions, but separate work and life and acknowledge the separation gives one more
worth and credit than the other. Both work and personal life are apart of the same life!
There, in making one part of your life have more value than another is where this belief
engulfs all of our life, not just our career.

There is a Broken Bells song called The Mall and Misery, and the first line in the song is "Use your intuition, its all you've got." There is a lot to be said about that ten syllable sentence. We all have an amount of psychic ability in us. Whether you believe this or not, its true. We are animals with instincts and sometimes this is our most useful tool. "What does your gut say?" We've all said it. We've all heard it. If something is not working in our life and we feel like we are always swimming against stream, we probably are. Your body knows things, we just have to give it the time to figure it out. This brings me to my next belief. Here it is declared.

Belief #2 Spirituality + Inspiration + Intuition = Everything
*Earlier this week, I related how spirituality leads to inspiration. Once in a while,
there is a lack of inspiration so we need to keep it cataloged. We have to know what
inspires us for those moments that we have no inspiration. Our spirituality(religion,
meditation, a personal philosophy, exercise, ect) will get us grounded, focused and will
enhance inspiration because not only does it give clarity, but it too will inspire us. When
then the spirituality and inspiration are added to our intuition when there is clarity, we
are able to gain knowledge about the hiccup, problem, issue, triumph, or obstacle that
we may have at that moment. We get everything!

This is quite a bit to digest, so marinate on it. I'm off to record our show and then I will continue with more......

Day 6....A Good Day

2010-06-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

So, I spent a lot of time observing yesterday. I also spent the day as I would like all of my life to go. I created it, for myself, and it was wonderful. When going through this process, so many little things come up that we have to try to remember so we can encorperate them into our daily lives. The thing to remember from this day is that we have to do the work. This day would not have happened if I didn't do the work to recieve it. Just because the life we want is the life we benefit from and are most alive in doesn't mean it not going to take work. No matter what our state of being, life is going to be work and sometimes it is going to be difficult. If we do the work though, honestly and with verve, we will recieve the benefits from that. I want a life that I benefit from. I need a life that challenges me and rewards me and I believe and know we all deserve that, to any level we find ourselves.

Well, I'm going back to sleep for a couple hours. I found myself awake at 5a.m. and thought I would take this opportunity to write a little about day six. It will really all be in day 7 so I hope everyone is looking forwatd to it.

Day 5 Beliefs and Inspiration

2010-06-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Inspiration comes from so many different avenues. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come all the time, that’s why we have to be able to record what inspires us and be able to access it. While I was watching Grey’s Anatomy today, I realized that one of the reasons that I have been such an avid fan for such a long time is because I am always inspired by it and am able to go back to it and watch it again and again to get those feelings repeated. That is the main reason why such a show as Sex and the City are so popular. Yes, entertainment value is there, but so is inspiration.

Inspiration and Spirituality. There are of course, many reasons why we, as human beings are spiritual. It is a way to come together in communion. It helps keep us balanced and grounded and holds us accountable to the actions we take. Above all these things though, it inspires us. I must say, because for some of you reading that don’t know me as well, when I mention spirituality, it doesn’t necessarily mean religion. It can be religion, meditation, exercise, Wicca, or whatever. For me, it is Rilka’s Letters to a Young Poet. When I really get into the thick of life, I go back to it. I have been through probably, at least, twenty five copies. I give them away, write to much, or just get the most out of them. It is one of my touchstones.

This weekend I am going to log down my areas of inspiration, continue with what I believe in while mixing it up with my wants and my needs. At the end of the weekend, day 7, I’ll bullet point the week and have a full list of these topics. Once that is there, I have a funny feeling integrity is going to sneak its way in and we will throw that up against our lists.

The last part I want to write about stems from another T.V. show. I have recently fell in love with the show Parenthood, thanks to hulu.com, and the season finale paralleled this little journey. The matriarch of the entire family is going through the exact same thing that we are. It is just a reminder that this is a check and adjust system for our entire lives, not just now. The other thing that was mentioned was that you have to be actively participation in your life. I’ve taken quite a few courses with Landmark Education, and this is a reoccurring idea with that organization too. We cannot sit on the sidelines of our life. If we do, we will vanish and there will be no evidence of our existence.

Here is a little inspiration to leave you until day 6….. It is Ryan Adams song “Words” with a little of an additive.

Day 4....Wants, Needs and Beliefs

2010-06-03T18:28:00.001-07:00

In my line of work right now, I see a lot of people in just a short period of time. I see their different states of being, their attitudes, their focus for the day. I get all this in just a matter of seconds and then comes the presuppose: Do I let them continue with this until something else interferes, or do I take initiative and change it? I was blessed with an amazing gift to read people fast. Not necessarily who they are in life, but where their gage is at in more immediate moments. It comes in handy at work, as well as my life.

With this talent, I see what people want or need pretty quickly and can go off of that and change their attitude. This sounds fantastic because you may be thinking that I make peoples day and put them into a more grand mood. I do and I do this often. Unfortunately, when I'm exhausted or offended, it can just as easily go the other way. It rarely happens, but it happens.

I digress though. At work, I get to separate people's wants and needs. Both need to be manicured individually. A woman comes in, she WANTS a medium coffee, but she NEEDS to be told she looks fantastic. The coffee comes quickly with a smile and a warm greeting followed by, a muffin? The compliment comes with its own presentation. A pause, a look of focus, and "What did you do to your hair? It looks amazing!" Both want and need were met and her clarity comes for just a moment, but it's there. My question is, what happens when our wants and needs are met? Just a question, but one that needs to be answered with recognition, not a fanfare.

Thinking about all the people I see in a day, and what I'm working on with this search, I spent some time today thinking about what they think of there lives and how they would file it in "Where they should be?" An observer can really see the ones that love what they're doing, the ones that despise it, and the ones that aren't even aware that they don't have to be where they are. Just food for thought, but a lot can be said as an observer. It gives a chance to be objective and relate that to the subjective. As I continue to touch base with people, and check in with my beliefs, I'm going to take some time this weekend to just observe. Observe and relate.

Until I add to this later, after I eat some dinner, I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite videos or Rue McClanahan. She was a phenomenal actress that worked on one our most controversial shows in American television. The Golden Girls topics were groundbreaking and to think that three of them have past is sad. I thank them for sharing their talents.

Day 3. Part 2.

2010-06-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to write a couple thoughts down before I go to bed. The passion that each one of us posses is inside us. We just have to touch base once in a while and give it space to grow. Once we do that, it propels us into inspiration, creativity, optimism and discovery. The difficulty here is finding the time to stop our busy lives and give it a little space and nutrients so that it can flourish. This passion is a living being that if not taken care of, will vanish.

No one ever prospers from taking the easy way. They may be happy, or believe they are happy but greatness in our world's history has never come from mediocrity. I choose not to lead a mediocre life. While this week continues into the next, I feel that I must go into my personal beliefs. How can we know what we are to do in life if we do not know what we stand for. It has been a long time since I actually took inventory in what I believe and hold to be true. That will be my exercise for tomorrow, to make a list of my beliefs. I will also reference a journal article I wrote from when I was in college.

Sweet Dreams everyone!!!

Day 3. Part 1... A walk through Barnes n Noble

2010-06-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

I took a walk through Barnes and Noble with an open mind and no forethought. I was just wandering though to see if anything jumps out at me. I am acknowledging that there is something there that I maybe have not yet been introduced to. On the other hand, I am acknowledging that what ever the next step in my life is, that it really could be at my fingertips and I don't know how to access it. I was in a meeting earlier today and my regional director said a couple things that went along with what I am focusing on in my life. The one that left the imprint was "the journey isn't significant if you don't remember all of it". His context was completely different than how I am using it now but is still just as important. In order to get through this discovery, I have to acknowledge all of my journey. Again, even if it is one part of my life that is only going on for two weeks.
So far today, I did a couple other exercises. One of them was that I made two lists. One list was of things that I have always been interested in. When I say always, I am referring to topics in my adult life. Some of these include acting, music, organizing events, helping people, Eleanor Roosevelt,writing, Philosophy and classic poetry.
I then made a second list. This list is of topics that just recently, with in the last year, I have become interested in. Some of these include film editing, voice over work, fiction writing, radio work, photography, education, teaching abroad. Now, with both lists, I am looking back to my adolescence to see what of these lists have either carried over to now, have reappeared, or are brand new. The final thought in this exercise are there things from my adolescence that are missing; Ideas that were so strong to me when I was a kid that I thought would be so important to me as an adult that I wouldn't be able to live without? We'll see what happens from this.
The other exercise that I'll be continuing on through out this first week is getting a hold of the people close to me who love what they do and find out a little more about what it is that makes them love it and also how it contributes and enriches their lives. To leave you with Day 3, Part 1. Here are some of my pictures from Christine's wedding that I absolutely love.

Day 2 of my journey on what to do with my life

2010-06-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

I know it may seem pointless to think that this will be figured out in 2 weeks. I completely acknowledge that it won't be. My hope though is that I have a little more understanding about what options are out there and what I may be interested in that I didn't even realize I was interested in.

I haven't been able to do a whole lot today other than find ways to make money in fields that I have already conquered. But, my plan has been more clear. For the next couple of days, I'm going to start contacting my friends, especially the ones who have established lives doing something that I am envious of. It may be travel, being a house wife, marketing, advertising or even psychology. What ever it may be, I want to spend some time getting to know why they are doing this and what makes them want to do it every morning when they wake up.

The other thing that I'll be doing in the next couple days as this journey goes on is utilizing the Internet as much as possible. Look at different cities and areas of the world. Do they have something there that we don't have here? Would we benefit from that particular thing? Do I find it interesting? Are there areas that have something I want to move for?

This project that I am doing is all about being peripheral. Getting myself out there and seeing what I can talk about and bottom line, find that inspiration. Don't get me wrong, this isn't stopping me from looking into the things I've already got going. Well, until tomorrow, here is my new favorite entrepreneur.

What am I suppose to do with my life?

2010-05-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

Its officially the beginning of the summer today. Well, I know technically it is June 21st, but to everyone in the Midwest, this is officially summer: Memorial Day Weekend. A weekend of being on the boat, camping, cooking out and spending time with family and friends. Being around so many loved ones this weekend got me realizing that I'm not the only one in this spot of "What next?". Many people are back there again. Again! Really? Well follow me this next two weeks through a journey of me looking hi and low for new options. I'm going to get rested tonight and after work tomorrow, begin looking for options,answers and clues to what I want to be doing. I am not completely sure where this will be going, but I know it will be interesting. Keep up with me for two days and if you're no into it, let me know. If you are into it, let me know. I think we can make this a group effort. I know I could use the help.

Along with a great good nights sleep, I'm going to read this article that was introduced to me quite some time ago. It puts a lot of great ideas out there and it continues to remind you to be honest with yourself. Read it and we will get started.

Have a great night everyone!!!

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/66/mylife.html?page=0%2C0

Its Wednesday

2010-05-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of a fast week and just wanted to take a moment to say a couple words before I am in San Diego running around for Christine's wedding. AAAHHHHHH, I can't wait. It will be the first time that Christine, April, Beth and I have been in the same place at the same time in years. This is the closest we got and it was at April's wedding in Mexico in January. I love this picture though.

This got me thinking though how I haven't seen Beth in a year, and before that, it was about a year too. My friends are important to me and it frightens me how plaicant we all become with not seeing each other. I understand circumstances happen and that is the way it is, but it sucks. As adults, we have to become immune to it and it just kills me that these amazing people aren't in my life every day. My hope though, is that eventually, and that is a soon eventually, I will be in a location, with my husband and kids, where many of these people are in the same vicinity. I trust in this....

Well, until my next post. Here is a bit of good news. This bill stll has a lot to get passed still, but at least we have the backing of the commmittee. It'll add some brightness to your day. http://http//www.365gay.com/news/supporters-senate-panel-has-votes-to-end-gay-ban/

Now here's a little song. Have a great rest of your day!

This is going to be a long post

2010-05-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't posted in a week. I've got some things to talk about. Lets start with Pride in Long Beach last weekend. Thank you to everyone in Long Beach for showing us a great time. We were able to meet a ton of great new people. We also ran into some of our friends there too. Here are some of the pictures that we took. For all of them, check out my facebook page.

We really did have such a great time and loved every moment. Lets see if we can match it at L.A. Pride June 11-13th. Hottalk LA will be broadcasting live for the whole weekend.

Now, as some of you know, yesterday was Harvey Milk Day. Harvey Milk contributed, not only to that GLBT community, but he had a unique way of opening up every one's eyes to remind us that we are all human, and we all deserve the respect of each other. Please, this next week, take a moment to look and see the live of someone else you wouldn't normally encounter and dwell for a moment on how their life might be.

Happy Harvey Milk Day everyone!!!

We brought up a couple things up in the show for tomorrow. I just wanted to give the websites to them so everyone can get a little knowledge on what we were talking about. Like always, we never get enough time.

The 1st is is 365.com weekend watercooler. There was so much there this week I want to point out the DADT new. Especially the stuff with Nancy Pelosi Al Franken

http://http//www.365gay.com/topics/news_politics/weekend-watercooler-dadt-is-ending-lgbt-students-get-a-hero/

Now, unfortunately the BP oil spill has lost its splash in the news which is not good. So much oil is still leaking that Florida Marshes not to mention all life in the Gulf of Mexico that is dieing. The first article is on Kevin Costner donating 'Ocean Therapy' technology to help out. How is it that this movie actor/producer has this and BP doesn't?

The second article is just an FYI on how much BP is spending per day vs how much they make per day. Peanuts I tell you, Peanuts on what they are spending.

http://http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/05/19/2010-05-19_gulf_oil_spill_bp_oks_tests_of_kevin_costners_invention__device_to_clean_oil_fro.html

http://http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/new-economy/2010/0503/BP-oil-spill-2010-How-much-will-it-cost

I can't remind everyone enough to pay attention. So much is happening and if we don't pay attention, we don't have a voice.

Its Saturday

2010-05-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

So, Dina and I are about to go to Long Beach for Pride down there. My next blog will hopefully be full of the stories from the weekend but until then, here's Jodi with a little assistance for drinking by the pool Long Beach, here we come.

And this is just a preview to what the next Dina and Gregg Show will intail.

Get ready.

Some new things going on with Dina and Gregg

2010-05-11T22:36:00.000-07:00

So here's some things happening with The Dina and Gregg Show
Keep checking out dinaandgreggshow.com so you can keep up with all of our latest antics
http://http//hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=137&Itemid=211

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

2010-05-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have a longer post from today that needs to be edited so that will be up tomorrow. However, I wanted to at least leave you with a little entertainment for taking time to check out the site today.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

and to the rest of

HAPPY MONDAY TOMORROW

(oh, and keep in mind, the serial mom clips use dirty words. But they're hilarious)

My Mother, and Her Mother

2010-05-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

I have these pictures of my mother and me from when I was young. I was maybe two years old in these pictures and these pictures are of the two of us in a photo booth. I cry any time I look at these pictures because I see the happiness in my mothers eyes. It's a happiness that I don't get to see out of her nearly enough. Its a happiness that only comes when life isn't sitting right there on our shoulders aggravating us, forcing us to get involved with a billion other things that really don't matter. In these pictures, I get to see my mother in that happiness.

My mother was home with me through early childhood and I am so lucky that she was. All the good in her heart, how she reads people, how she talks to people all was digested in those early years. Some of my best qualities came out of those years. My amazing patience came out of those years. A patience that is so trained, it is aggravating sometimes to the people around me. These things I got from my mother.

Of course, this doesn't even include my manners, my behaviors that now, as I grow older, I see coming out more and more every day. One of these behaviors is how I can force the people around me to move quicker without even saying a word. All they know is that there doing a particular task more quickly and are shocked.

I also was educated those years at home with mom. She had the time to teach me and direct my curiosity so that it bloomed into intelligence and personality. Now, today in my 30th year on this planet, my mom is one of my best friends. She knows me best and is the first person I call when something really amazing happens or I need to be talked down off of a cliff.

After my brother was born, my mother had her hands full. From the point of my brother taking his first step, he hasn't stopped. He was a full time job and about the time he started school, she went back to work. I was self propelled by that time so she was less hands on with me. Please don't get this confused with bad parenting, she was still very active in my life, she just had some other major obstacles such as raising my brother, parenting my stepfather sometimes and working to help support our family.

About that time, my grandfather, Took Potter, passed away. Him and I were close. He was the main male role model in my life until this point. Well, this was the era where my grandmother and I really formed our bond. Despite my mothers intelligence and superior witt, my grandma is socially adept, has not only her degree but has been very successful in graduate school and is a sought out person in her field among her colleagues. While my mother was busy with the household, I began learning from my grandma. My grandmother influenced my young adulthood on formed how I treat people, respect people, and find hope in people.

While I was going through my adolescence, so was my grandmother. She had to redefine herself, not only as a widow, but as an independent woman in the prime of her life. The years that followed her husbands death, she bloomed into an independent, professional, nonstop power house whom repeatedly conquered goals, taught people around her, and showed people that there is so much that they can do for themselves and others all the while developing herself into the next phase in her life. I got a ring side seat for all of this and because of it, there is a language that my grandmother and I speak that is in and of itself. She has been my touchstone and I am excelling so much further in my life because of the influence she had on me.

I was home from college the summer of 2003 and I stayed with her at her house. Grandma still to this day is the best roommate I've ever had. She sometimes didn't stay at the house because she had her boyfriend, but when we were together at night,it was always a party. We had the warm summer nights, wine and candles on the deck, and conversation for hours.

Well, that is my mother and her mother. The two strong willed, selfless and beautiful women whom raised me. When anybody wonders why I am the way I am, you can thank them. Or blame them. It really depends when you get me....

It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge. ~Phyllis Diller

Last week in Long Beach

2010-05-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last week I was in Long Beach for Christine's Bachlorette party. Oh was it a debacle. I got there Saturday morning and from the moment I arrived at Nordstom Rack to do some shopping, it was off. We then had lunch, on to a couple bottles of white wine, and then to pedicures. That night our friends Karen and Mo threw an amazing, impromptu party where we bar hopped, got on a bus with about 50 high school cheerleaders, landed at the best blues bar on the west coast. We then arrived at dueling pianos where all the ladies and the single gay man couldn't put the drunken bachlorette together again.
Finally we ended up at the gay bars where I managed to not only get into a fight, but I took someones trick and brought the cute boy back to Christine's. It was a spectacular evening and here are some of the pictures. Thank you again Karen and Maureen!!!

Below the pictures are the link to Cat Man Blue, the Blues Bar we love.

http://http //www.catmanblu.com/

U2 and the following preview

2010-04-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had music completely relate to your life? When I was 21, it seems that U2's album "All that You Can't Leave Behind" parallelled everything that was going on not only around me, but inside me. I had really began to deal with my sexuality, my eyes were really opened to what we are shown in the media and the truth that we make for ourselves, and I was about to move to a place(Las Vegas) where I had never been before. Lots was going on and for some reason, U2 helped guide me at moments when I was dumbfounded on what to do next. The lead single from this album is "Beautiful Day", being the reason why I placed it at the beginning of this post. It still holds so much meaning to me and is a great reminder to be positive when things don't quite seem to be going our way.

This sample also references one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Coast to Coast. It really is one of the best ways to stay awake when driving in the late hours of the night. It is so ridiculous at times that you have no other choice to listen to what ever will be the next thing to come out of their mouths.

http://http//www.coasttocoastam.com/

Well, I hope you enjoy this sample of "I Have 3 Kinds of Hiccups". This part of my journey is definitely one of my favorites.

"Can a Bitch Get Out?"

2010-04-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

“Can a bitch get out?” Holly exclaimed because she had been trapped in the back of the Acura for close to four hours and desperately had to pee. We we’re on our way to see U2 and this trip was getting longer by the moment. Here we were, the three of us, sitting in this gas station Subway considering if maybe this trip was a bad idea. Hell no it wasn’t!

“Where’s my brandy old fashion sweet with this order?” I was on my first shift back at Houlihan’s; back in the thick of the Wisconsin Dells tourist season, attempting to get my head out of the relaxed care free culture of Cuba and back into the neediness and demanding mode of America. The only thing that I knew for sure is that Corbin would be to work soon and he was going to reveal where we were going to go see U2 for their 2001 summer tour. Before I left the country, I told him to just get us tickets. Didn’t matter where, just get them. So, when he finally told me “don’t worry, I already got you the days off work”, I began to worry. “We’ve got tickets for next Thursday. In D.C.”

I just got done traveling for two months and the last thing I could afford was a trip to Washington D.C. This was the summer of 2001. This was pre-gay, pre-degree, pre-Vegas. I only had one response to this. “So what’s the plan?”

The plan was that I close the bar on Wednesday night, where then, we would get in his Acura Integra, and drive our asses directly to Washington D.C., see the concert, and then get back by Friday afternoon before we both had to work at 4pm. No problem!

I finished work that night like planned where we learned our friend Abigail was not going with us. “Who are we going to get to take this third ticket last minute?” Then, with the grace of god, or some other very powerful vivacious force, a slightly intoxicated Holly Ace wandered through the front door to find out why we were still at work.

“Holly, you wanna go on a trip?” as if we were talking to a child.
“Sure, where are you going?”

“Just trust us, you’ll love it. Just go home and get a change of clothes”

“You two better not be bringing me to some foreigner party because I’m not putting up with it tonight. Well, maybe I’ll put up with it. Just tell me where the hell we’re going!”

“We’re driving to see U2. In D.C. You so are you coming with us?”

“Of course I am”

So, after a quick trip to Denny’s to say goodbye to Abigail, Gregg, Corbin and one sobering Holly Ace began their trip to Washington D.C. The time was now 2:30am Central Standard Time and the concert was at 7:30pm Eastern Standard Time. Yeah, I know, stupid young people.
I had the first leg of the trip. I enjoy driving at night. I have a trick though. I turn on AM radio and listen to crazies call in and talk about everything from conspiracy theories to alien abductions. When that gets boring, I pop in any musical and start blaring along. I picked this trick up from Ayo the summer prior when we drove out to New York. Later, after my first solo drive to Vegas, I would add singular wrapped candies and Red Bull to the mix. Then I could stay awake for eternity.

We made it till morning, and had just entered Pennsylvania when we finally changed drivers. I figured it was best because I still had a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania from that trip with Ayo. Kids! We switched and I attempted to take a nap. Honestly, the back seat of an Acura Integra was not built for 200lb, 6’1” men. Especially if they decide they’re going to take s nap lying down. So, instead, Corbin and Holly decided to play a game of Silly Willy with me which, for an eight year old child, should have lasted hours. Unfortunately I was twenty one and it took me even longer.

So there we are, over half way to D.C. adrenaline wearing down, realizing that it was time to eat. The last filling thing we ate was at Denny’s, at bar time, and that’s what I have to say about that. Adding to that grease was all the shit that one eats on a road trip, (energy drinks, chips, candy, ect) it was time to find something a little more sensitive to our stomachs and that is when we stopped at a random gas station in the middle of Pennsylvania that happened to have a Subway. “Can a bitch get out?” as we all raced for the bathroom.

Nothing outrageous happened during this pit stop. It was truly one of the most lifeless lunches I’ve ever had. All three of us thinking, “this had better be a great fucking concert”.

There was surprisingly not excessive traffic when we arrived into D.C…............

Erogenous Zones

2010-04-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

I was just popping on Youtube to look at something but completely got distracted by this. I am such a sucker for Designing Women. Hope it gives you a little chuckle.

A few thoughts for this wonderful Monday

2010-04-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

As many days, this day began about 3:30am and I have been focused conatantly on my day job. Now that I have a moment to think about the rest of the world, I would like to take a moment to bring up a couple topics. The first one that I feel is important is radio stations geared toward playing oldies. Recently somewhere someone decided that the late 80's and early 90's were up for grab in this situation. It could just be me, but is it wrong that we are now lumping my generations music into my parents generation? Isn't that why we have 80's stations seperate from country and classic rock? I suppose I'm not going to get anywhere with this, but I listen to these stations seperately because that is the mood I happen to be in at the moment. Don't worry all you radio stations who are now all of a sudden worried you'll lose me as a listener; I'll still listen. Somebody has to still listen. It might as well be me.

Fergie!!!

She has a new single out, that isn't with Black Eyed Peas. Bless her heart for trying. I am just happy that she has found the proper equation though for her audience to love her: Pick a song that is with another person. Choose a part of the song to sing (preferably a nice melodic part of the chorus) you can repeat a few times. Don't sing any more than that and if you absolutely have more vocals, rap them. If this doesn't work, then resort to spelling.

There you have it my friends. Fergie's flawless equation for having a top 40 club single.

Well, I can't find her new video at the moment where she does exactly what I just stated, but this one does a pretty good job. Thanks Fergie!!!

Before I finish with what I feel is the greatest new gem ever, here's our latest show. I hope you get a kick out of it. I throw a lot out there but we laugh...... at me! As always, check out

http://dinaandgreggshow.com/ to keep up with the latest of what we're up to.

http://http//hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=137&Itemid=211

Now, onto my new love, at least for the day. Two Fat Ladies. These two women are chefs that don't give a worry about the healthiness of their food. They only care that it tastes delicious while they add their own two cents. They crack me up. Here's a couple of their videos. Let me know what you think.

Its been a weekend

2010-04-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

I finished work on Friday night, ran home, showered, went to dinner and then continued this pattern of one highlight to another. I love it but that gets to be exhausting. I'm looking back at the weekend and realize that I ran constantly and as I am writing this now, need to get back into my bed so I can be up for work at 4am.

The highlights of the weekend were amazing so I have nothing to complain about. I got some good one on one time with Stella. She came down from Seattle and we went to dinner, hung out. Christine came up for Dina's pre-Birthday event. We turned the pub over on Vermont st. into an impromptu gay bar. I went home, slept for a couple hours, and then finish up our American Cancer Society Relay for life. Here is a link for anyone who would still like to donate money to the cause. Our team is team Verona.
http://http//main.acsevents.org/site/TRpg=team&fr_id=20325&team_id=661554

I didn't finish up until about 9am this morning but it was completely worth every lap. If you ever get a chance to participate in a relay for life, its an amazing experience. And, its kind of like camping.

Today I just lounged around and slept. I don't take many opportunities to spend the day in my pajamas but I definitely did today. Now, for all of you who love True Blood. Get a load of this...

As for everything else, I will have to catch you up all tomorrow. It is time for me to go back to bed. Stay tuned for another sample of my upcoming book, "I Have 3 Kinds of Hiccups"

Sorry everyone.

2010-04-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

I learned that my last links weren't going anywhere but they're all fixed now. I hope that every ones week is going well. Mines got me a bit slow but I will get over it. I always do. "We are intrepid" That is one of my favorite quotes from the movie Elizabethtown. I did take a sex and relationship class on Monday night that I'm really excited to discuss but unfortunately that will not happen tonight. I am off to bed in just a few. I do want to leave you though with the link to the new Dina and Gregg Show as well as a trailer to a movie that I am so excited to go see.

http://http//hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=137&Itemid=211

And this, I'm just putting this in here because. It makes me laugh and it's so absurd. I am a little sad though because it doesn't have the radio commercial in it. The one with "He can pop open a pinata with a wink and a smile." Stay thirsty my friends.

News Topics

2010-04-18T19:37:00.001-07:00

Here are some news topics that we weren't able to get to on the show for this week. They definitely need some attention though so at least take a moment to ponder them and add what you think, or in the slightest, give them a little acknowledgement. These relate to all of us...

#1, Obama and hospital visitation. http://http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/16/nation/la-na-gay-couples-hospitals16-2010apr16

#2. Evangelical psychotherapists in the UK attempting to heal homosexuals. http://http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the-exgay-files-the-bizarre-world-of-gaytostraight-conversion-1884947.html

#3. Gay men being able to donate blood. http://http//www.365gay.com/opinion/culhane-its-time-to-end-the-gay-blood-ban/

With all of this seriousness, we need a little funny. Here's a great Motorola commercial that I found on Youtube. Have a great Monday everyone.

Neurotic Over Achiever

2010-04-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

I have no clue why I am so neurotic about getting things done. I just spent the afternoon with Dina freaking out that I haven't hardly got anything done this weekend and then called my mother and did the same god damn thing with her. When I get into this funk, I get myself all worked up and then waste even more time attempting to calm myself down when all I need to do is sit my ass down and get some work done. So now, that is what I am doing. I didn't go anywhere specific to work. I just sat down, in my living room, with a beer, and started writing. Who else has this issue? In reality, I got a ton of tasks crossed off my to do list.

I try to analyze where it stems from and I have no idea. I was definitely an over achiever when I was younger but that was school goals, making yourself look better than other students/competition. I'm not going up against anyone here. It's just me, me and my goals. There is no specific time line,just a picture that I have painted in my mind that is what I think would be my succession to my own happiness. This isn't saying that my happiness will only come when I get to this picture because that would be completely false. I am extremely happy with my life yet change happens and we go through seasons. The difficult thing as human beings is that we have this change happen a little more frequently than we can handle. That is a fact for everyone. Even though change doesn't happen often for certain people, it does still happen and it happens more frequently than they would care for.

I want to end this quick little post with a thank you to Langdon Bosarge. He is another host at Hot Talk LA who joined us in the studio for our show this week. He brought up how we go through seasons as well and some times even I need a reminder of that. I know, you're thinking "Gregg, that has absolutely nothing to do with your original thought" Well, deal with it. Don't worry, you'll here from me later tonight.

http://http//hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=982&Itemid=318 option=com_content&view=article&id=982&Itemid=318

A.D.D.Wasting Time

2010-04-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

I have never been someone who has been able to waste time. If I did, it was in purpose to something. Like, getting ready to go out, making a decision, or a task that I didn't really know how to complete. Well, in this last year, I have become such a time waster that its beginning to not be funny anymore. Take this afternoon for example. I left work, made sure to take some coffee with me so that when I got home, I would eat quick and leave to work. Well, I suppose I did work right a way but not at the concentration I would hope to. I ate, checked email, looked at facebook, looked at my plenty of fish account, facebook, airline tickets, Hot Talk LA, and back to facebook. I blame this "new me" all on technology, namely facebook. I have become obsessed, as many of us are, and as many of you have already been for years. What is a gay man supposed to do? It is so entertaining. I do have to place some blame on youtube. Any one who reads my blog can obviously see that. I always have videos that I find on. Speaking of...... Listen t Mary J. Blige cover Led Zeppelin. It is so hot!!!

While I was procrastinating today, I did get a chance to catch up with my cousin Jacqueline. Gr owning up, I didn't have a sister that I could talk to, so I had her. We unfortunately don't see each other as much as I would like to, or even talk to her as often as I would like, but I know she's there, and I'm confident that she knows that I am always here for her. Her and I were in the middle of so much when we were young, and it is astonishing to think that we both ended up normal; For what ever normal is worth. She is so fantastic though and has become so successful and I am so happy to call her my cousin and friend.

With that said, look at this picture I found. That is one Santa I do not want to sit on the lap of. This little girl(or boy)

is just as content though. That little person is just thinking, how much longer will I need to be placed here? 1 minute? 5 minutes? Please just give me a timeline so I don't lose my cool. I will shit my pants though if need be to get

me off of this ass with the ass!

As for the rest of this week. I've been so busy with my day job that I haven't gotten hardly any chance to work on new material or write even a bit. I am on the move to find a new literary agent so if any of my readers have any ideas, email me at gregg@dinaandgreggshow.com. Any help at the moment would be greatly appreciated.

The final thing that I'm going to leave this post with is the last show of 2 Guys and a Mic. If you haven't listened to their show yet, you need to start. The hosts are Ken and Rich, and their banter is definitely something to have on listening to when you're working on something that is not necessarily a task that is happy. Their last show though, had a lot of added Dina and Gregg stuff. Happy Listening!!! Oh, and Happy Friday for everyone who's Friday is tomorrow.
http://http//hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=86&Itemid=211

Monday, Monday, Monday

2010-04-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a great day. There was a group of classes that I took a while ago and in them, we were presented with the idea over and over again of sharing. Share with everyone, with in reason, what is going on in your life. You never know who needs help and who can assist you. That is the cosmic joke of the world is that we don't know what we don't know. In these classes I took, there was one more addition to this thought though: You don't know what you don't know and you don't know that. It really does make sense when you think about it.

Well with that said. Our new show is up on hottalkla.com and on itunes. Please check us out. This new move to Hot Talk LA has definitely made a difference. Here's the link. Ann Walker stopped in and made it even crazier, as always.
http://http//hottalkla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=137&Itemid=211 option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=137&Itemid=211

Yesterday we lost one of my favorite actress, Dixie Carter passed away yesterday. I know it sounds a little nuts, but I saw so much in her character Julia. Even as a young child, I noticed how this put together woman always had control of every situation. I also loved how once in a while, when she was pushed about something she was passionate about, she would then lose her cool. Even then, when she would get pissed, she still had her intellegence, stanima and sophistication with her. I like to think that is how I am. With a little less situational comedic writing. Or maybe a little more. Well, here are a couple videos. One of a famous Julia break down. The other is about the ladies of Designing Women talk about gay marraige. It still prides me that so many sit coms in the late 80's and 90's had so much knowledge and forsight on this topic.

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