I'm gonna make a change for once in my life..

Man in the Mirror is still my favorite song ever. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change...

AMEN!!!

Words can't express what Michael Jackson has meant to me. I remember when my cousin Anthony (God rest his soul) told me that I had to listen to this album called Off the Wall. He loved it and said I should too. I always listened to Anthony, so I listened and loved it. I was hooked. I watched the Jackson's cartoon Saturday morning, but my musical taste really hadn't formed. For people who grew up in the 80's you know that music brought people together. Popular music was everyone's music. I can still remember Rock with You. Still one of the hottest dance singles ever!

My dad brought home the Thriller on LP and I remember I wasn't allowed to touch it because I had scratched previous records and this one was special. We put it on and the first song I wanted to hear was "Billie Jean" because they were playing it on the radio. I was fascinating by the video and the lights that lit up as he moved around. There was "Beat it" and then Thriller. He changed everything for me. A story told through music and dance.

Growing up the only child I had lots of playtime and a whole house as my playground. I would go downstairs to the family room and dance around like Michael did. That was huge because I was a shy child outside of my house. Shy, introverted and overweight with glasses, but I was a dancing fool in the house. Home was a safe place and Michael Jackson was a way for me to get physical without judgement. To this day I can recall all the dance steps to Thriller. I'm glad there's no video of that!!

At the time where was so much happening...Return of the Jedi, E.T, and Michael Jackson. It was a great time to be a kid.

I was shocked and saddened, buy his passing and my prayers go out to his friends and family.

I LOVE YOU MICHAEL!!!

Being Critical

I'm the first one to say that I wanted Hilary Clinton to be our 44th President and mainly for one reason...Healthcare. Healthcare should be the number one priority in this country. For one, a country is only strongest as the health of it's people. Healthy people make proactive choices about their lives and not reactive ones. Clinton had a plan for healthcare that took the power away from the insurance companies. November came and went and now we've have Obama to take the torch and overhaul the Healthcare system in the "rich" and "powerful" United States of America.

Unfortunately, I don't think Obama wants dramatic change. He's looking to the Insurance companies (who are the problem) to fix a system that makes them billions of dollars. Really!

Yes you can be critical of the first African American President of the United States. He should welcome the criticism. Bring it on! My suggestion to Obama...stand up for something! You've been too silent on a few issues in this country and it's time to stand up!

• Gay Marriage in California
• Don't Ask, Don't tell
• Healthcare (he's holding a press conference today)

He's got the Democratic control of the House and the Senate. There's nothing stopping overhauling the Healthcare system. You know what's stopping him...The Healthcare lobby. Looks like the insurance companies have bought and paid for our Congressmen and President. I wonder how many American dollars it took.

A New Camera

Friday May 29th I went to B's birthday dinner in Hell's Kitchen at Meskerem 47 (an Ethiopian Restaurant). The food was different, good but different. I had some deliciously sweet honey wine though (maybe too much). During the evening we took a few pictures to document the food and guests present.

Afterwards we left the restaurant and headed for the train station at 42nd and 8th Avenue, dropped off a few friend and I walked a friend to 57th street, to her bus to the upper east side. I approached Columbus Circle for the train I needed uptown and realized my camera was gone. I knew I had it on my shoulder when I left the restaurant, but couldn't remember if I had it when I got to 42nd street.

I checked the restaurant and retraced my steps and no camera. I was pissed and went home. There was no contact information inside the camera. I decided to put an ad on Craiglist's Lost and Found section as one last hope.

Two days went by and no email. Monday, I bought a Canon camera for $129.99. It was a good thing because the video from the camera uploaded easily to my mac for editing in iMovie. That's a huge plus. Thursday, I got an email that asked me to describe some of the pictures taken on the camera. I did and they said they had my camera! I picked it up the next day and thanked him again and again.

This is what happened... the couple was walking to their car from seeing a Broadway show and found the camera. After finding no contact information inside, they had their "assistant" look on Craigslist where they found my ad. Before picking up the camera I offered them a Border's Books Gift Card and they refused. He did suggest that I put come contact information on the camera.

Now I have two cameras. I going to give the Sony to my mom and keep the Canon.

Note to you:

• Make sure your camera has contact info on the camera. You never know.
• Also, watch that Honey Wine.

UP...the movie

I went to the Ziegfeld theatre Saturday night to see a man with balloons attached to his house. I had heard it was amazing. Amazing was an understatement. I thought it was thought provoking and a sign that brave storytelling is really happening with Pixar Entertainment.

I won't say what happens, but I will say it's about letting go. Its' about opening up and commitment. I cried at various points in the movie because you saw this character struggle to let go of the past and stand on his own to feet with new friends beside him. The courage he displayed was inspiring.

Pixar movies always do it to me.

Bruno July 10th

I can't wait to see this movie. I'm sure it's going to be funny and the jokes may go a little long, but it will be a great look at homophobia around the world.

The fact that he's so handsome is like icing on the cake.