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I’ll know my name as it’s called again

Once again music saves the day.

Without sounding like an ungrateful free American who has good health and a loving family and a roof over my head and food to eat, I will say I have been feeling very creatively uninspired, and bummed, and filling my mind with doubt while staying up till the wee hours watching “Finding Bigfoot” in hopes that they will FINALLY find the hairy bastard (or bastards, because according to Bigfoot researchers there are 5,000 plus Squatches roaming the U.S. and Canada. Seriously.)

My mind survives off of creative juices. All of our minds survive off of something. Even finding Bigfoot. But, the crappy part is we find ourselves in a rut, wondering what our next personal or professional breakthrough will be that will remind us that we can make it the next six months of our life feeling that we are contributing to something, being bona fide, useful, or just a happy person. And, sometimes we have no idea how were going to regain that feeling of inspiration again. How many different ways are there to be inspired? It’s the same amount of times we will forgive ourselves and have the belief to start over again.

This afternoon, through an email I was led to the insperation. The lift in spirit. I received an email from “The Rundown” which led me to the “Rdio” website, which led me to “Pandora”, which led me to the song “The Cave” by Mumford and Sons.

I will include the video below. Listen to the words. I didn’t look up the meaning, but it feels like the words are what our spirits are singing to us so that ( in FDR’s words) “our place will never be with those cold and timid souls who never know neither victory nor defeat.”

LYRICS

It’s empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you’ve left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

Because I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I’ll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker’s land

So make your siren’s call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Because I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it’s meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

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“Over Analysis Causes Paralysis”

I put together a short video for the Fame National Show Choir Championship Series. Fame invited some of the cast and crew of Green Day’s Broadway Musical “American Idiot” to the Finals in Indianapolis to put on a small workshop. They taught some of the choreography from their show, and sat down afterwards to talk about their experiences about performing on Broadway. Below is a clip about dealing with fear during auditions. I realize you may not be auditioning for a Broadway musical, but I feel this advice can be applied to situations such as a job interview, personal goals for the new year, moving to a new city, singing “Forever in Blue Jeans” at a Japanese karaoke bar, etc. (For highest quality watch in 720p HD)

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Wake Up To A Break Up…

I just received an email from the folks at WakeUpToABreakUp.com congratulating me because they are featuring my video about relationships on their website. They tell me my video was “compelling” and “will help viewers as they heal from heartbreak”. I’m hoping this qualifies me for the Nobel Peace Prize.

To view the video and website, copy and paste the link below to your browser.

http://www.wakeuptoabreakup.com/Video-Relationships.html

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Vere Gardner / Pearl Harbor Survivor

For timely reasons I wanted to upload at least one segment from my interview this morning with Vere Gardner. Pearl Harbor Survivor. At 90 years old this man still insists on giving a  firm farmers handshake. He enlisted into the Navy at age 17, and was sent to war without any training from the military (due to the urgent need for help) . He was on the USS Salt Lake City. Even though the majority of the interview covered serious topics, I loved when Vere would start laughing at something he found funny. In this clip he tells a story I found funny as well. More clips to come soon.

 

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Peace in the Pacific

I was lucky enough to be asked to come to Oahu and shoot video for the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Parade. Today marks that day. I hope to grab some meaningful interviews with a few of the Veteran survivors. Yesterday, I interviewed the sunset on Waikiki Beach. So for the next few minutes, take off your shoes and socks, wiggle your toes, and enjoy the warmth. (for highest quality watch in 720p HD)

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The Ghost Cobbler

Fabian De LaRosa. The proprietor of Lamb’s Shoe Repair located in downtown Mesa (next door to Bill’s typewriter shop). Since the opening of Lamb’s, Fabian is the third proprietor. First there were Mr. and Mrs. Lamb. When Mr. Lamb passed away, Mrs. Lamb re married. Together her and her new husband worked at the shop. I can’t remember her new husbands name, but as Bill (next door) remembers, he always wore a red vest when cobbling shoes. That detail you need to remember when watching this video I titled “The Ghost Cobbler”.

Fabian is a very friendly guy. He is always busy. Except for the occasional times his twin brother comes to help, he has always worked by himself in the shop. I had heard through Bill that Fabian had been having paranormal experiences while at work. One day, Fabian came into Bill’s typewriter shop with a “my customer just saw a ghost” look on his face. He asked Bill “Was there ever a man who wore a red vest that used to work in Lamb’s?” Bill told him about the second husband (mentioned earlier) who always wore a red vest when cobbling shoes. Fabian began to tell Bill the story that you are about to watch. Fabian shares what happened the day a lady came in to pick up her shoes, and saw an older man who was wearing a red vest working back by the machines. He also talks about hearing loud noises throughout the shop, when there is no evidence of what caused the noises. His twin brother came in one morning to help, and while Fabian left to get supplies at the store, he came back to the shop to find his brother nervously waiting outside due to the noises he was hearing in the shop.

So, sit back and enjoy another story from a Downtown Mesa proprietor. (for highest quality watch in 720p HD)

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The Juicy Fruit Man

If you grew up in Mesa, AZ you probably know Joe the Barber. As a kid, whenever I needed a haircut I would ride my bike down to his shop, sit in one of the waiting chairs, listen to the older men banter, and watch the baseball game that was on the TV. When my turn was up, I would hop up in the chair and tell Joe “standard missionary haircut please”. Because I had no idea how to tell them to cut my hair, my mom would instruct me to say that to Joe. I realized later on that “standard missionary haircut” meant to cut it short how a church missionary would cut his hair. Today I would just order the “standard I’m going bald so just shave it with a number 2 attachment haircut please”.

My favorite memory from Joe’s (besides paying a dime for a bottle of soda, and reaching in to pull the bottle from the hole in the machine) was being handed a stick of Juicy Fruit gum after my haircut. It’s what everyone remembers. It was really the only time I would get Juicy Fruit gum. But, as I got older I would periodically buy a pack just to remind me of my time as a kid sitting in his shop.

Joe is now 90 years old, and is still cutting hair.  He was kind enough to allow me to come down to his shop last night and ask him a few questions on camera. I tried to come up with some questions (click on the “questions for joe the barber” photo above) but, the one question I was anxious to get on camera was question number 5. When I finished the interview, Joe gave me not just a stick of Juicy Fruit, but a whole pack. That’s right. I’m guessing business has picked up. I chewed the Juicy Fruit while packing up the camera. It was perfect. I’m obviously not a great interviewer, so turn up your volume, or put on some headphones if you have them nearby and enjoy Joe’s Juicy Fruit Gum story. (for highest quality watch in 720p HD)