Com Alex Kidd in the Miracle World aprendi a jogar Pedra, Papel e Tesoura.

O jogo é de 86, e foi declaradamente desenvolvido para ser o Super Mario da SEGA. Aspectos gerais são semelhantes, enquanto alguns detalhes criariam o fator distintivo. Embora tenha feito grande sucesso – até porque passou a vir ‘embutido’ em todos os Master Systems no princípio dos anos 90 substituindo Hang-On – não chegou nem perto do fenômeno espetacogumelar da Nintendo. O Mario da SEGA acabou sendo Sonic, que também chegou a ser ‘embutido’ em Master Systems, mais tarde.

O soco mortal da mão gigante

Esse jogo também colaborou para que eu me aceitasse enquanto sujeito que tem um cabeção. Pelo menos não tenho essa orelha gigante (nunca tinha reparado).

Alex Kidd plantou uma dúvida em minha mente, quando eu era criança. Foi a primeira vez que ouvi falar em bolo de arroz. Como pode que japoneses – que supostamente eram gênios da tecnologia, cultura e tradição – gostassem de uma coisa tão sem graça quanto um bolo de arroz? Essa dúvida me atormentou por anos. Na versão ‘embutida’ do Master System fabricado nos EUA e Europa, o bolo de arroz foi substituído por um hambúrguer.

Nagyon jó szám, fel tud vidítani…

And hang on – hang on – hang on!
Everybody just get on – get on – get on!
Get started and go on – go on – go on!
Everybody just hold on!

PS: Teljes dalszöveghez kattints ide:

Things are getting weird, things are getting tough
Nothing’s making sense but you keep on looking up
They tell you to be true, you’re trying every day
You keep it on the real, still you gotta find a way
To make your mama happy, to make your papa proud
You gotta turn it up but all you hear is turn it down

So gather round I’m here to say
You’ll never make everybody’s day
But while you’re around you might as well
Catch the tiger by his tail

And hang on hang on hang on
Everybody just
Get on get on get on get started
Just go on go on go on
Everybody just hang on

Sometimes I wanna cry and throw the towel in
They try to beat me down but I’ll take it on the chin
And everywhere I go the people are the same
They just wanna know that everything will be OK
Things are getting rough, turn it back around
You gotta turn it up when they tell you tone it down

Hear and cheer the lying angel is here

Standing up giving a speech

Touring the world, “the change is HE!”

Using words playing with them

He thinks we are all suckers

Take his words, sleep on them

Believing and dreaming again and again

We are not animals and we don’t live in tents!

We have cable, computers and internet

We don’t only here what you come and say

We watch and READ the news EVERYDAY!

Yea it’s a third world and yes we are poor

But we are not dumb and of that be sure

You promise us the sky

Think we are now addicted

And taking in your drugs we’re high

No we are not, at least not me

You are a fake, soon all will be revealed

You talk about Pease when you visit our land

Then go to the enemies, and shake their hand

Give them weapons to destroy “terrorism”

You quote Mandela but you will never be ANYTHING like him!

“Prolonged detention” is that what you want to do

Put us in prison for no good reason or a even clue

For how long? (Infinity)… you’re the devil himself!

At lease be smart and stop publicly contradicting yourself

Remember we have eyes and ears with them we can see and hear

We still have brains we are not mindless gears

We think, pray, eat and BREATHE!!!!!

I will shout and with the highest pitch I’ll scream

Leave us alone that’s MY LAND

Petroleum or gold whatever it is

Stay away or as we say “I’ll cut your hand”

We’ll fight for home till our last man

Open your eyes we are just defending

We are not the terrorists

…Because of what you do!!

I am sure all the countries hate you

Stop deceiving yourself the terrorist is YOU!

Making fallacies and speak only of lies

Get real a child can point them out!

Watch out or like Hitler you will be

Making a world war, the most hated man that’s what you’ll be

Even your great land will soon disappear

I can perfectly picture the day

When?

I’ll throw my MIDDLE EASTERN SHOE in your face

(Just like the man did to BUSH the other day!)

All the arrows point to one man

… Yes that’s him. I am making a stand as of today!

Eine nette Übersicht über Flash-Remakes von Spieleklassikern hat Macwelt zusammen gestellt. Ein Blick lohnt sich.

Pacman

Space Invaders

Super Mario

und viele mehr…

Macwelt: 50 Retro-Spiele in Flash

After feeding Nathaniel his breakfast, I’m loading the dishwasher and my mind starts to wander.  I think to myself, why is it so hard to move on and let go.  I’m talking little things- not saying that I should move on past John… I don’t think that will ever happen.  But simple things like packing up his clothes or putting a car up for sale or figuring out what I’m going to do with my horse numbers.

I started going through clothes a tiny bit a few days ago and stopped shortly after I started- in tears.  Things like his black LiveStrong shirt

Me, John, & Nathaniel at the Miles for Melanoma Walk - September 2008. John wore his black LiveStrong t-shirt a lot and even more after he got sick. Just the words LiveStrong really embodied how John lived his life- even to the end.

or his flame boxers that I bought him back when we were still dating.  Then the answer comes to me.

We as a people tend to like to hang onto things.  It is easier to hang on to something than to let it go.  We grieve over losses, regret mistakes, and can’t move on past broken hearts.  We keep around things just in case we might need them again.  We save baby clothes even though we know our childbearing days are past us.  Often we let clutter fill our lives.

Maybe I should look at it in a different light… we collect things.  But often what we collect will never become a valuable antique.  Quite often what we collect is well… just junk.

I hope in time I’ll be able go through clothes and to some extent move on past the grief and just enjoy the many memories.  I know that will take time and nobody knows how much time.

But for now, it’s easier just to hang on than to let go.

Sarah knew that she had absolutely nothing to do. “Everything takes time” that was what she knew. Should she forget about him, let go of the memory that seemed almost perfect; let go of charming and get back to the real world. She knew pretty well that what was meant to be would always find its way, so she waited. Every night before she went to sleep she thought of him. When she started to right in her diary she always managed to add something here or there to relate to him. Like when she was writing about the outing with Jody and her boyfriend and how they held hands; she managed to leave a comment that his hand was nothing like Aly’s. To make matters even worse by that time she didn’t even know that his name was Aly she just called him “leader”.

The other day when she was doing the usual going through facebook; looking at pictures of friends, whom she didn’t really care who they were or with whom they took the pictures. She barley even saw the pictures she was looking and trying to kill time. And suddenly she felt like someone stapled her tummy, as quickly as possible double clicked on the “previous” button; but because her hands were shaking it was more like a triple click. However, she got herself together and managed to reach the picture she wanted. Was it leader in the picture?! She literally stuck her face to the screen tall dark broad man, but what?

She was about to cry. It was not Aly it was just someone, she got all crazy about a picture, of someone who looked just like some guy she saw once. At that point all men out there were him. She compared every face to his. She was losing it. Sarah called Jody and got all crazy on the phone crying of humiliation or was it desperation?! Jody did what she could do best listen and try to tell her that she was not alone. Sarah had always been Jody’s savior with her at her downs. she carried her around. She was Jody’s support system. Jody knew that she owed her life. But what could she utter her to make things sound better. If she could have gone down the street and look at every face ask around to find him, if it were possible she would have, but the thing is she never saw him before how was she to even know him. Even all sarah described him by were words like “perfect” “amazing” “had attitude” “tall” “strong” “nice” “kind”; it wasn’t the sort of description to get her picture him.

Jody was always the reckless baby, who constantly needed taking care of, and Sarah was basically her big sister and to some extent she was jody’s second mother. They have been best friends for countless years. They always managed to be there for each other. When the biggest bully in middle-school bothered Jody Sarah was there to give him a piece of her mind and talk him to drop it. Sarah always had her way; she would have been the perfect lawyer. However, when it came to the “mean girls” Jody would always show them who was mean! None of them would dare mess with her neither with Sarah because that was just how things were; they were a team, simply inseparable. Sarah as a matter of fact never got into these girls ways. She managed to hide out and move the spot light away from herself, and Jody was her cloak.
One day Jody happened to notice constant stares in burning their way to Sarah’s direction. It was a friend called Omar. She noticed that wherever Sarah was he was always with her, just like her shadow. Sarah would never notice him, she always under estimated herself. So, a existance of an admirer was something she needn’t think of. Sarah and Jody were a part of a nice group of friends always that were amazing. They knew how to laugh and have a good time. So that day when they were out for dinner and Jody noticed she shoved her elbow into Sarah’s side. And with a sharp look looked at Sarah then at Omar and since they knew each other pretty well Sarah understood what she meant, but gave her the “wake up” look with the dismissive hand wave as to tell her “ common, he is not interested”.

Jody never let the thought of Omar liking Sarah slide, she always thought he was good enough maybe even for Sarah. She would have wished for someone better though; but for the time being he seemed to be the perfect solution to help Sarah let go of her illusion. She started driving the idea into Sarah’s mind, pointing out good things about him, make her take notice of his actions, to show her that “yes Sarah you are pretty enough to get his attention, he would wish to have a girl like you.” so reluctantly Sarah started giving into the idea thinking “Jody knew better, what do I know about relationships. I have never even had one!” Never the less she compared him to her framed prince charming picture “leader”, he was not like him he was just… different. Sarah thought that maybe it was time to give it a try change the routine.

To be continued…

For anyone who has never climbed their way to the top of a sailboat’s mast, anyone?, it is one of those experiences which includes the phrase, “Don’t Look Down.” Compounding that experience is the fact that the boat below can move while you are up there! It rocks!

Now applying a bit of physics to the motion, when someone happens to step “on board” at the bottom while you are (way up) at the top, the deck may only move a few inches or so; but the fulcrum applied to the length of the mast makes your movement at the top in feet and is definitely a case to “Hang On!”

So what does this have to do with “Sober Fun?” It came to mind thinking about this week’s story which has to do with cleaning out the gutters on the house. What? What could possibly be fun about that? And what has that to do with “all things sober?”

Sobriety puts you in touch with “all things”…real. The point of this story for me is to consider how different it might have been “un-sober.” The gutters, you know, are up there. If your house is two stories or you live on a hillside, up there is on a ladder. I mean a real ladder, not a “get that old electric wok off the top shelf” ladder.

On flat ground, maneuvering a real ladder up against the high part of a house is already a formidable task. Now add a new variable in the ground not being flat. Entering the equation is which way the ground slopes relative to the side of the house you are working on. When the ground slopes to or away from the side it is a matter of adjusting the length of the ladder to make the best “throw.” With a stable base and flat lean on the house, it is a simple matter of climbing up and down the ladder…no sweat.

The worst part is when the ground slopes up or down in the same direction the wall (roof edge) is running. Unless you have adjustable feet at the bottom of the ladder you have to use your imagination and…improvise. So…if the slope is “significant” and the height is “respectable,” you actually have a similar scenario to the boat and mast image. How is that? Well, to improvise means you put whatever you come up with (bricks, blocks, wood chunks, old tires) under the foot of the ladder on the downhill side so the ladder will stand up straight and not lean to left, lean to the right…stand up, sit down, fight, fight, fight.

If the ground happens to be soft (like just after the rain we had the night before I did this) there is a chance that while applying ones weight to the ladder, the foot and/or support can sink a bit into the ground. I had to use two four inch garden blocks and a two inch paving stone to get the downhill foot up to the uphill height. They were set right on the ground so they too sloped counting on friction to avoid a “predicament.”

With each step up the ladder, I watched to see if the blocks were about to slip or sink into the ground, and consequently which way I was going to jump should the unthinkable version of “timmmberrrrrr!!!!” begin to occur (knowing gravity would not likely make it fall uphill). A settling of a couple of inches at the bottom could mean a couple of feet at the top! Tuck and roll in that case would take me all the way down to the street!

I made it to the top, and while holding onto the gutter gave a couple of “butt thrust” pushes to determine if the feet were going to hold. I pictured myself dangling and hanging on to the gutter (Helllppp!) like you see in the movies, should it decide to blow … Now I know you are waiting for me to tell you that’s what happened … but it didn’t. I got the work done there and descended safely back to earth.

Was that a result of “sober safety?” Maybe as it would not have been unusual in the past life for me to power down a couple of malt liquors before-hand to “drum up the courage.” Goof Off is more like it. But now I had to move the ladder to the highest part of the roof! The ground there slopes down and away from the surface I was leaning it on which now adds the potential of the bottom slipping out from under.

I extended the ladder to its fullest twenty-two foot length and leaned it up there. The top just barely made it to the edge of the gutter so I was doing the full monty, er, length to get to the top. (Did I mention I had lost just over twenty pounds in a little more than a month of cutting out the sauce?) I was confident it would not be a problem making the ascent so I put my attention to how well the feet were set to the ground. This of course includes determining if the angle of the ladder is enough so as not to fall backward while at the top; a scene also immortalized in movies.

Now, standing back looking at twenty-two feet of ladder from the ground does not look unyieldingly daunting. However, the “sensation” of height I believe becomes exponential with each step taken, beginning with the thought of even taking the next step. Twenty-two feet even achieves that “don’t look down” status, for me at least (I have fallen off a roof before), and as I reached the top I think I left some finger imprints in the metal of the gutter itself.

I made it to the top, and “carefully” got the work done there and … Then it was time to come down! (Did I mention I have just over twenty pounds I still want to lose since cutting out the sauce?) On the way up the ladder I climbed rung for rung like any ladder, arms slightly extended and feet taking each next step in turn. On the way down, however, it was a whole different story. I don’t know what makes the difference but I was huggin’ that ladder like a fireman on a pole. I had a “significant” grip on each side of the ladder and that extra twenty pounds I mentioned was protruding in and out of the spaces in the ladder like a slinky going down a set of stairs. I wasn’t about to lean back and I think I left a whole layer of epithelium tissue from my belly on each rung, even through my shirt!

But alas, the job was done. Miller time? ‘Fraid not. It was just nice to have been outside and active and getting something necessary done, picked up and ready for the next thing…instead of a nap had I gone the malt liquor route.

JimmieNew

I say i hate you

I say you’re a big lie

I say leave me

And then i cry… the truth is

Without your love… i will die

So keep on hanging… and never say goodbye

I used to live without love

But then you came and took my heart

So please don’t leave me and tear it apart

I say you’re thoughtless… but i know you’re not

Caz you were there when i was lost

You helped me up

And dried my tears

When all i felt was fear

I know you love me

I know you doo

And i still love u

I hope you do

“I just need you to mend my heart”

…fluturi in stomac si un zambet cat casa poporului. daca ma indrogosteam asa pe la 17-18 ani faceam infarct de emotii…sa va faceti weekend-ul placut, chiar daca nu sunteti platiti pentru asta

OK, your depressed – and so you should be – several times a year – but its the start of something creative (unless you are really abnormal), just hold on through its ravages and you will lift and soar with new energy. Also, if you have a broken heart, the universe will look after you through it, the universe looks after the broken-hearted and mentally ill – I don’t know why, but it does. So at the back of your mind just hold-in there – even be quietly happy that your so depressed.

Mike McConnell 'Caught A Glimpse' @ Jambotunes July 13/09

During the past week or so…

- met with Mike McConnell from the band ‘Caught A Glimpse‘.  Very talented metal/screamo band with some great song ideas. Good chat about a lot of ’stuff’.  Mike and I plan to reconvene soon – writing a song together seems like a cool idea.

- wrote with Kalan Porter.  Outcome = song in progress.  Off to another great start.

- wrote with artist/songwriter Luke Willms.  Outcome = song in progress.

- recorded Tristan Avakian playing guitars for ‘Still Pretending‘ (JC/Brian Melo/Tristan Avakian).

- Ole meet & greet with new company president Michael McCarty last Thursday evening.  Good times.  Great chats.

- wrote with Shiloh yesterday (Sunday) — excellent new song in progress.  

During my writing session with Shiloh, Brian Melo dropped by the studio to play the mixes of the 1st three songs he’s recorded for his upcoming album.  The songs — ‘Hang On‘ + ‘Weigh Me In‘ + ‘She’s Getting Away‘ (all 3 written by JC/Brian Melo/Rupert Gayle) are sounding brilliant.  Brian and producer Harry Hess are doing a great job.  

- after Brian’s visit  Shiloh and I decided the song we were writing might work great as a duet.  So…we called Brian Melo back and invited him to return to the studio on the 27th, when the 3 of us can finish writing the song and record duet vocals. Thumbs up all around.

- heard from Lindsay Ell that her new USA management team is really liking the song ‘Just Let Me Go‘ (JC/Lindsay Ell) and that they would like to include it on a 4 song E.P. (alongside 3 other songs that were written by Lindsay & Randy Bachman, I believe?).  Very humbling, but also, very wicked.  Always really liked that song.

Coming up over the next couple of weeks:

- writing with Tara Oram (Open Road/RGK) + Kaci Bolls (Roots Three/Ole) on Friday.  Awesome.

- writing with Marshall Dane next Tuesday.  I haven’t written with Marshall before, but, I’ve heard good things.  Looking forward to the opportunity.

- working on scheduling another writing date with Kalan Porter to finish the new song we started last week.

- some other sessions through my publisher Ole still pending confirmation.  Will make a good update for a future post. 

Also planning development for a new pop/rock band project (project to be co-written/co-produced by JC/Ben Dunk).  More news soon.

Hope everybody is doing well and enjoying the summer.  Hard to believe it’s half over — feels like it hasn’t even really started.

Talk soon

jc

by student Sarah Ewalt

Twilight at the lake house
Around the bonfire with friends
Sipping, talking, laughing…
For now, all is well.
I hold this shining moment:
So glad I hung on,
Despite the pain,
The hopelessness,
The not knowing how to go on.
If I had ended it all
15 years ago
I would have missed
This sweet Spring night –
The sun saying goodnight to the trees,
Spending time with friends I never knew I’d meet,

happy to be here and alive.

Now I take care of myself

and the moments take care of me.

By Kerry Vincent © 2009

Twilight at the lake house
Around the bonfire with friends
Sipping, talking, laughing…
For now, all is well.
I hold this shining moment:
So glad I hung on,
Despite the pain,
The hopelessness,
The not knowing how to go on.
If I had ended it all
15 years ago
I would have missed
This sweet Spring night –
The sun saying goodnight to the trees,
Spending time with friends I never knew I’d meet,
Finally feeling happy to be alive.

By Kerry Vincent © 2009

It’s been awhile.

Because I have four jobs. And am applying for more.

Also looking for an apartment or rooming situation.

I’m a bit busy. Hang in there– the good stuff will be back.

WHEN I’M GOOD AND READY!

The legendary game creator has been pretty much out of the limelight for a while but Sega Sammy has announced that Suzuki San will be stepping down from his role as R&D Creative Officer for the company. He will however remain as an R&D Manager for the AM Plus Division.

AM Plus develops arcade games which could be a nice fit for the arcade 80s genius.

In the past Yu Suzuki created such arcade classics as Hang-On, Out Run, Space Harrier and After Burner. Then he went on to create Virtua Fighter and most recently Shenmue.

We are still hoping, fingers crossed for a Shenmue III but it cannot be denied that the day Yu Suzuki leaves the gaming world will be a sad day.

Aquatica en SeaWorld Orlando es un enorme parque acúatico que ofrece atracciones unicas y oportunidades de interactuar con animales. Vea las piscinas de olas gemelas, emocionante acción en el río, delfines Commerson y otras cosas másen la galeria de fotos de Aquatica o Acuatica.

1.    The Gate-ica - La entrada principal a Aquatica.

2.   Lots of Riders Take the Plunge -  La atracción principal de Aquatica, Dolphin Plunge, con toboganes a los lados.

3.   THERE’S the Dolphin - Vea a los delfines en un área de observación bajo el agua.

4.   Falling for the Dolphins - Loggerhead Lane es el perezoso río de Aquatica.

Peces tropicales en el río

5.  Tropical Fish–in a River? - El perezoso río atraviesa una gruta con un acuario repleto de peces tropicales Africanos de colores.

6.   Crazy, then Lazy - Los pasajeros abordo de dos Tasssie Twister salen al perezoso río.

Papagallos en Aquatica

7.   Flocking to Aquatica -  Papagallos son exhibidos en Aquatica.

8.   That’s a Lot of Waves - Aquatica ofrece piscinas de olas una al lado de la otra y cada una con olas diferentes.

Si, es Aquatica!

9.               Yep, it’s  Aquatica - Una escultura de arena en Aquatica.

10.           Tubing It ! - Un par de toboganes en Whanau Way ofrece diferentes emociones.

Muchas maneras de mojarte

11.          A LOT of Ways to Get Wet  - Walkabout Waters es una inmensa estación de juegos interactivos.

12.          Big Squirt from a Lil’ Squirt -  Un infante apunta a Walkabout Waters.

2 cubetas gigantes de agua

13.   Two Buckets, No Waiting - Con dos cubetas gigantes de agua, uno se  refresca muy rápido.

14.    Water Curtain -  Las cubetas de agua en Walkabout Waters botan MUCHA agua.

Tortuga en Aquatica

15.  Slow Walk to the Fast Slides -  Nunca se sabe con quien voy a chocar en Aquatica.

El río no es tan perezoso

16. Not-so-Lazy River - Roa’s Rapids es una río de acción que es muy rápido, bastante largo y es divertido.

¡ Agarrense de algo !

17. Hang On! - Roa’s Rapids se parte en dos carriles en la ruta y toma velocidad.

Walhalla Wave

18.  For Families on the Go -  Walhalla Wave es un tobogán de 20 metros de alto con tubos cerrados que te dan una movido paseo en la oscuridad.

Caida de 20 metros

19. 60-Foot Drop - El Segundo paseo familiar en balsa, Hooroo Run, es una enorme bajada en línea recta en un tobogán abierto.

Deslizate en Taumata

20. Mats on the Taumata - Los pasajeros van a bordo de alfombras de colores  Taumata Racers comienza en la oscuridad en tubos cerrados.

Si busca espaciosas villas a precios accesibles y cerca de sus parques tematicos favoritos durante su vacación en Orlando, le recomiendo visitar  http://espanol.orlando-florida.net/ para mayor información de las propiedades de Westgate Resorts, incluyendo Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center y Westgate Vacation Villas.

  Orlando, Florida Guide, la guía más completa en línea de Orlando, le ofrece información   de tiquetes a Disney World, tiquetes a Universal Orlando, y tiquetes a Sea World Orlando.

Ok…so I’m just putting the finishing touches on the final demo for this current ‘Demo Production Period’.  Sweeeeeeeet!!!

As always…a very challenging but also very rewarding endeavor!!!

Drum roll, please:

THE STATISTICS:

Demo Production Period length: 20 days (Nov. 5 – Nov. 25)

New demos completed: Seven (7)

[Note = 1 new & fully produced demo each 2.85 days]

Uses:

‘Hang On’ (vocals Shiloh) ~ pitched to major label artist (U.S.A)

‘Sound Proof’ (vocals Shiloh) ~ pitched to major label artist (U.S.A)

‘Never Felt So Good’ (vocals Brandon Chandler) ~ pitched to major label artist (Canada)

‘Ordinary Miracle’ (vocals Brandon Chandler) ~ pitched to major label artist (Canada)

‘Something To Believe In’ (vocals Shiloh) ~ pitched to major label artist (Canada)

‘The Truth [Life Gets Hard]‘ (vocals Brian Melo) ~ pitched to 2 U.S.A. major network television shows

‘A Long Way From Home’ (vocals Brian Melo) ~ submission in a.m. — pitches TBD.

[All songs co-written and produced by JC @ Jambotunes].

Additional: Also 2 other new songs co-written during the demo production period, but not demo’d this time around = ‘Like I Deserve This’ + ‘Space To Breathe’. 

What was most awesome to notice upon my review of the demo production period was how my publisher was also working hand in hand with me throughout the process.  Note that each new demo (excepting the one that I will submit in the morning) has already been pitched by Ole for a very significant use (in one case, 2 uses!).  To me, that is mind blowing and really makes me feel that my work is not for nothing, excuse the double negative.  Teamwork is everything. 

Anyway…now we get to see what happens.  I’ll be sure to post follow ups if any of these pitches pan out.  And, in the meantime…I’ll get back to work.  Off to scout out a new band (i.e. potential new writing partner) tonight, then….another writing session scheduled with Brian Melo and Rupert G tomorrow.  

Ciao!

While writing this blog post JC was listening to: ‘The Truth (Life Gets Hard)’ ~ Brian Melo 

Naomi Striemer & Rupert G @ Jambotunes...(summer visit)

Just surfacing for a breath of fresh air and a few minutes of daylight (wish I could say ’sunshine’, but, that would be somewhat inaccurate today). 

So far this week, I’ve finished 3 new demos (all JC co-writes): ‘Hang On’ ~ ‘Sound Proof’ ~ ‘Something To Believe In’ ~ (all sung by Shiloh — so, that was quite enjoyable).  I expect to finish another 3 – 4 full demos by the time the weekend is over. 

2 days ago I wrote with Naomi Striemer & Rupert Gayle — we penned a new song titled ‘Like I Deserve This’.  Naomi loved the song and had me send the piano/vocal ghost tracks over to her producer so that they could immediately begin to work on it for the new album she’s recording.  If you’re not familiar with Naomi, you might soon be.  She visited the studio hot on the heels of her appearance at the Air Canada Centre where she sang both national anthems to 20,000 prior to the Leafs game.  Naomi has a remarkable story – both personally and professionally and has a knack for making things happen.  The term ‘driven’ definitely applies here.  Her previous album was produced by the legendary Narada Michael Walden and featured a performance by Carlos Santana on the track ‘Cars’ (Carlos was also featured prominently in the accompanying video).  Naomi is also busy recording another song (Dissolve) that she wrote with Rupert and I during her summer visit to Toronto – that song will also be on her new album [and...Naomi says we may even see a video for Dissolve before Xmas?]. Whew….way to go, Naomi.

I also wrote with Brandon Chandler from Portland, Oregon last night.  He visited Jambotunes studio to write with Rebecca Everett and myself.  Brandon recently signed a publishing deal with Casablanca Publishing and is in the middle of a whirlwind songwriting/networking tour of Toronto.  We wrote a new song called ‘Space To Breathe’ and Brandon stayed late to finish some cool vocal takes.  He’ll return on Saturday to sing down 3 more demos for me.

Ok….hope all is well for everybody reading this.  Stay positive and focused — don’t let those negative background noises get in your way.

Peace.

While writing this blog post JC was listening to: ‘Like I Deserve This’ [worktape] ~ Naomi Striemer 

Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.   Christopher Morley

Boys, there ain’t no free lunches in this country. And don’t go spending your whole life commiserating that you got the raw deals. You’ve got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it bad enough I can have it. It’s called perseverance.    Lee Iacocca

“Keep trying” is the rule that must be followed
to be successful at anything.

Your success will always be connected with your actions.
Just keep moving towards your goal.
You’ll make mistakes but don’t ever quit.
You may even have to hang on after others have let go.

Persistence means taking pains to overcome every obstacle,
to do all that’s necessary to reach your goal.

In the end, the only people who fail are those that do not try.

All great achievement takes time.

Now there’s a great prompt to help you think about ways to change your priorities at midlife.

I’ve decided the most important message I would like my life to express is:

Never give up on yourself.

I have been so tempted at times to give up on myself and others in my life. I know most of you are confronting a financial crisis right now, but mine came earlier.

Eight months after I lost my job and could not find another one no matter what I tried, I was in crisis. My life felt like it was slowly disappearing down the toilet and I honestly had no idea where my next house payment was coming from. Desperation set in.

I remember sitting in my living room, one sultry July day, sweaty and depressed, considering my options. The TV happened to be on and Richard Gere was speaking to the host of some talk show. I turned up the volume because I generally enjoy his world view. At the end of his time, the host ask him for a few final words. He seemed to look me straight in the eyes and say, “Hang on, it all changes.”

These are the words I would share with you if you have great fear around the present crisis, not unlike those other wise words, but ever so true, “This too shall pass.”

Yes, Richard somehow captured the mystery of life for me in those five small words:

We should never EVER give up on ourselves and our dreams.

Soon after I began writing professionally, I also launched this new blog. I knew it was high time for me to step up and start to offer support and encouragement to anyone else who might be feeling like a midlife loser. I felt compelled to bolster those whose courage was faltering, and tell them not to give up on their craziest aspirations and ideals, just because they were going through a bad patch.

I believe we all have boundless potential to change at any age, and discover a life we can only imagine now. Midlife is a great time to start manifesting that unique vision you’ve been secretly nurturing for years.

I figure if my daily missives from “The Queen” help even one midlife sojourner realize their deepest, seemingly impossible fantasy, I have successfully transmitted the message of my life.

What is the message of your life? Please share it with us.

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