I’ve decided it’s important for me to record dreams, revelations, devotions, studies, thoughts, and other various things that God drops in my spirit on a daily basis. I’m undecided as to whether I should incorporate these things into this blog, or record them in a private blog, though, I may do both. Today, I woke up about an hour later than I normally do. Note, it’s difficult to keep yourself motivated to wake early when you don’t have a job, so I would like to work on waking up before 9 am, which I do sometimes… but… well, you know. Anyways, when I wake late, it’s also hard for me to prepare for my day by spending time with God before I go anywhere. So, generally, I’m up between 9am and 10am, but today, I was a late sleeper. Amidst all the weirdness, chaos, and general not-knowing-what-the-heck-to-do of trying to find a job around Christmas time, I’ve tried to seek purpose in this whole down season, which I seem to be failing miserably at one day and exceedingly victorious at the next. Go figure.

I don’t like to stick to one particular devotional, since there are times that I feel God wants to move me around, or sometimes, He wants me to just read and seek Him a little more diligently than just going through the motions of a  ”today, I read this and tomorrow I will read that, and isn’t God oh-so-predictable?” routine which doesn’t leave much room for us to be fully open to Him and what He wants to say to us on that particular day. I find the devotion that I want to read from one of my favorite resources, crosswalk.com, and dig into a Daily Disciples Devotional about the nature of God (http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/daily_disciples/) and see what happens with that. There is something beautifully liberating about just saying, “God, here I am. I want to study Your word, but I want YOU to dictate what it is that I receive today because only YOU know what it is that I need to hear.” So, here I go, on the roller coaster of amusement and amazement that is being open to revelation as the word of God, totally untainted by your own sensibilities, comes at you with complete and utter honesty. I use the term “roller coaster” not to signify unsteadiness, but to signify unpredictability in the sense that we may end up in the highest of highs, or in the lowest of lowly (humbling) states; still, it all results in an intrinsic experience which we approach willingly and excitedly, with eager anticipation, and leave feeling like we wanna ride it again and again. We feel younger, more daring, more alive, more real, there was risk involved and we took that risk as we felt the effects of the ride in our bodies and came out triumphant, with a general consensus that we can take on the world and win. You get the point. I view “free association Bible Study” the same way. Oh wow. I’ve just coined a new term… or maybe I’ve just never heard it used before.

During this study, I run across the words, “Because He delights in mercy” (Micah 7:18), and I say ‘whoa, back the truck up… you mean He DELIGHTS in showing me mercy? This is too good.’ From there, I pondered Paul exclaiming that he glories in his infirmities and that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Now I see that all this time, I’ve sought to destroy my weaknesses, not taking into account the amount of glory that my humanity (and utter failings) bring God on a daily basis. If I’ve asked God to remove it and He has not, it’s because He wants me to overcome it through Him… and apparently, this gives Him pleasure. His ways are truly higher than mine because this is definitely not how I would run creation, if it were mine to run. It’s funny to me that I’ve been a manager so long that I tend to see everything in life in terms of business, from the way I view people to the way I view relationships, ect. But, at this moment, I’m aware of how much greater He is than I am at managing what is His.

I miss waiting tables. I know that sounds ridiculous, particularly to those still doing it, but I really do. Mostly, I miss clocking in, doing my job, making my money, and then going home. I miss being able to tune people out and keep going, and not being forced to listen to needless drama, both at work and at home, and dealing with guests is not nearly as bad as dealing with employees most of the time. Besides, it’s time for me to go back to school, finish my degree, and what better way to do that than serving? When I think about it, I never hated my job as a server. I have, however, hated my job as a manager many times. Either way, it’s a consideration. Nobody hires at Christmas time and I need a job NOW.  Actually, 2 months ago. I go to all of these interviews for Management and my heart is never in it. I go through the motions because I know I just need a job, and that is what I’ve been doing for G0d-knows-how-long… time to refocus.

Father, give me an open door that I can walk through.

Traditions, religions, order, organization… how we cling to our routines and presuppositions, and, in the process, shut out to the voice of God effectively. How we search for answers while refusing to let go of our precious control commodities. We’re afraid to abandon reason, and find the greater reasoning beyond our scope of human understanding, given from One who has governed free of human reasoning since before the first breath of life was given; Jehovah, our Lord, the self existent and Eternal One, who never needed our understanding for one single accomplishment and innumerable mighty works. Yet, we don’t trust Him to guide our daily purposes. How ignorant and vain are we to latch on to man made doctrine full of do and don’t, will and won’t, should and shouldn’t? ‘Let go, Beloved,’ He says, ‘and let Me teach you My ways, My truths, My statutes in My appointed time.’

A few weeks ago, a friend gave me the heads up on a new Google Chrome promotional video, stating:

Here is a little video that made me think of you…

1.) For your love of technology and what it does to people and…
2.) For your love of yarn.

The good part starts at… 3:35 but the whole thing is worth watching.

Below is the portion which starts at 3:35.

For the complete, equally creative video, click here.

We talked in yesterday’s blog about Kevin Carroll and The Red Rubber Ball. Kevin is an inspiration to us and clearly the influence behind our Company name; his work appeals to all, he motivates and inspires and his unquenchable desire to facilitate social change through the power of sport is infectious. Imagine then, how we felt when we realised he had featured us on his website??! http://kevincarrollkatalyst.com/blog/comments/got_play1/

In reading his blog earlier today, we came across further proof of the genius of Paulo Coelho, author of the incredible book, The Alchemist.

The pencil is mightier than the sword?!

The Story of the Pencil
Source: Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked:

‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:
I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.
‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’

‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, they will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’

‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.’

‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterward, it’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.’

‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.’

‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. in just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action’.

Wow!

The world in which we live is a fast paced society, that brings great challenges to building and sustaining healthy relationships. Relationships are such a key to our existence and take concentrated time and energy in order to develop. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one first.”  I came across a challenging poem by Charles Towne and thought I would share it with you:

“Around the corner I have a friend, In this great city that has no end.

Yet days go by and weeks rush on, and before I know it, a year is gone.

I never see my old friend’s face, for life is a swift and terrible race.

He knows I like him just as well, as in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine, we were younger then, and now we are busy tired men.

Tired of playing a foolish game, tired of tring to make a name.

“Tomorrow” I say, “I will call on Jim, just to show that I am thinking of him.”

But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes, and the distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away, comes a telegram that says, “Jim died today.”

 And that’s what we get and deserve in the end; around the corner a vanished friend.”

Ever since 2001 when I discovered the “Fruits” magazine and books empire it’s been a dream of mine to go to Harajuku and
shoot some cool folks my self. I finally had the chance this past summer.
Despite the rain and lack of folks dressed up. I managed to fulfill my dream even in the most modest way. I give you my photo of “Umbrella Girl.” Notice the tiny top hat.

Christmas dresses!!!

Hello beautiful people!!! These are my new dresses..designed for some Christmas meetings..dinners…and stuff…I attended the second  edition of  “Vintage, homemade, handmade fair”…and was fabulous…I sold some of them…so if you are interested in one of them just contact me…Have a beautiful and happy Christmas!!! With love I.I…>>><<<

Place : Cafeneaua Acaju, Str. Sf. Sava nr. 15

Model: Irimia Daniela Maria

Fotographer: Florentina Arsinte (www.florethoughts.com)

Have you had one of those days where the challenges felt nearly unbearable?

One minute you are gliding right along, the next you realize your well-laid out plans are going to crash, and fast. 

What do you do?

And, why do things seem so much more challenging with Christmas 4 days away?

What does this tell us?

Pay attention to only the big things, and remember, everything is small stuff?

When everything is going in fast motion, and your head is still wanting to sort it all out, how about stepping off the fast-moving train and sticking your tongue out to it all? Sounds good to me.

Children are able to do that exact thing, shrug it off, live for this very moment.  I think we can too.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  Matthew 5:9

With tea, bible in hand, paper and pen..Sitting and pondering about this wonderful verse on Matt 10: 38-39…

“Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it in the end.”

Oh, we are called sons and daughters of the most high. We have access to His presence.. We should live a life of worth before God.. Be worthy of Him… This yr is almost to an end, time to think, time to set goals for this new yr that is to come, a yr of victory. Time to make decisions of who we will be, what we need to change, what we need to do, who we will live for… The ways of this world are deceiving.. The ways of God leads us to eternity.

Going to the secret place with my Lord to continue writing…more posts coming up soon..

Love, Ingrid

and we can start again.

The Bible is pretty clear about just how much of our lives—time, energy, thoughts, and passions—should be directed toward fulfilling our purpose. Some might think merely attending a weekend service is giving enough of themselves to God. Others might see a deeper commitment of attending, serving, and tithing as the acceptable measure of giving. Unfortunately, the idea of compartmentalizing life into “church” and “personal” categories misses the point altogether; God is after our everything. The Bible says, “You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price” (1 Cor. 6:19–20, NLT). Remember Mike’s eternal words, “If He isn’t Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all.” The standard has been set and the requirement is simple: give it all you’ve got!

There is a repeated theme in Scripture that is worth mentioning known as the law of sowing and reaping. Some have identified this prevailing tenet as the law of divine retribution. It’s pretty simple … you get out of life what you put into it. The apostle Paul used the analogy of a farmer, telling the church in Corinth, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give” (2 Cor. 9:6–7, NLT). Although the context for these verses is the giving of finances, the principle of sowing and reaping applies to every area of your life, which includes fulfilling your purpose.

If you want to see a few people’s lives changed with Christ’s message of redemption and eternal life, then only tell a few people about it. If you want to see God’s presence operating occasionally in your day, then only say a few prayers. If you want to live an average life, then just devote an average part of your life to pursuing average greatness.

However, if you want to know and see God’s Word in full operation in your everyday life, you must ingest it every day. If you desire for God to speak to you and use you in great exploits, you must spend quality time in prayer listening and being prompt to obey every time He speaks. If you want God to bless your finances beyond measure, give beyond measure, release funds far beyond what is comfortable. And if you want to fulfill your purpose, you have to give it all you’ve got. It’s the law of divine retribution; God requires all!

You see, you will end up devoting your time, energy, and life to the things you perceive to bring you the greatest return. Solomon, who had everything he could have possibly wanted, reflected back on his life, looking over the sum of all his mistakes and successes and made one sweeping, final, poignant statement about life: “Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (Eccles. 12:13–14, NLT).

Jesus gave His all, and He requires that we also give nothing less than whole-hearted dedication to Him and His purposes. In essence, we need to be like a postage stamp, stuck in our place until we arrive at our ultimate and final destination.

Wondered off from aneurysms to Indian philosophers. Better get back to Robbins soon.

I usually detest lists but I found “100 most inspirational books of the 20th century” convened by Harpincollins. I know, I know. It sounds uber cheesy but well, it was endorsed by a panel of theologians, and both Siddhartha and My experiments with Truth by Gandhi are on the list!

Answer to my longing for Darshanas!

Well not quite. I actually really want epic poems to read. Gitanjali, where are you?

But Yogananda and Ramana Maharshi are highly interesting. Might get “Autobiography of a yogi” (yes, it is a superbly gross title) tomorrow!

Alright alright, back to pathology MBBS!!!!!! Roar!!

Woman…

Was created from the rib of a Man,

not from his head to be above him,

not from his feet to be walked upon,

but by his side to be equal,

near to his arms to be protected,

and closed to his heart to be loved…

Kahlil Gibran

It was candlelight service this week. Honestly, one of the best services anyone could ever attend. I just find it so amazing; having just one, just one lit candle, passing to people and through people that multiplies light. In moments, the entire hall was filled. What an amazing sight.

Each year ill make a wish with my lighted candle for the next year that is to come. I looked back at the past 12months, the best seems to have already happened and seem to be right infront of my very eyes. Good things are rolling in, from situations to people to gifts i couldn’t ask for more.

But, i thought awhile more, and i felt. The best comes when you go through the worst and the feeling of making it, OUT; stronger than how you went in. 2010 is not going to be easy, because of what has been sent and said forth in 2009, but I believe.

Im thankful For the farmer and for the fisherman. They’re gonna make it out strong. That the next 1.5years will even be better for them

Ill hold on to you.

Well. Enough is said, with the flame that is blown out, I smiled

Not long ago, I went to the movies with a friend I don’t see very often.  I told her I was going back to my hometown for the holidays, so she asked me about growing up in Kansas, and what I was like before I was ‘Malik Aziz’ (literally and figuratively).  I’m only being slightly sarcastic to say I started to have a flashback like Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) when Charlie asked him about his childhood…

The most dominant memory for me is of the place I spent most of my time: the basement of my parents’ home.  It is an unfinished basement: the floor is cold concrete, as are the cement walls.  The lights are old school: a lightbulb attached to a string you pull on.  There is a small one foot wide window that provided a little natural light when the sun was shining, but at night it was pitch black.  I had a weight bench in one corner that I used every night to take out my frustrations (and thus began my lifelong appreciation for fitness).  My other outlet was DeNiece, who I would call once a week, usually on Saturdays, when I had to express my frustrations to another person.  I could usually hear what was going on in other parts of the house, but overall it was very quiet.  It was the perfect place for me to study the Qu’ran initially.  And no, I’m not trying to deliberately make it sound like I was in Shawshank.  (Okay, maybe just a little).

Jokes aside, all of us are forever marked by how we view our childhood.  In my case, I will always have that memory of being spiritually miserable, geographically/professionally miserable, and socially miserable all at the same time.  And I vowed then that I would not live my life like that forever.

The point I was trying to make to my homegirl was to go from that vivid memory of complete frustration, to being where we were; sitting in a private screening room in Beverly Hills, watching a probable Oscar contender before it hits theatres; I feel as I’ve gone from 5 percent of what I wanted to somewhere around 80 (and on nights like that it hits the high 90s).  I work to have the life I want and it’s a never ending process.

But getting from point A to point B is not something I’ve ever really done alone, and this year as much as any other I had a quite a bit of help, support, and favors done on my behalf.  I’ve spent a good few days thinking of everyone who’s done something for me in the past 12 months, so if I’ve left you out feel free to yell at me, but know it wasn’t on purpose.  Like I said, I work very hard to get what I want, but I’m also aware I’m very, very blessed to have folks like these in my life.

So, in no particular order, thank you to Sev, Nate, Kareem, Jamaal and the Ummah around the world, Vahagn for hooking me with the comics, Booker for hooking me up with the games, Rosanna, Ekpo, and Q for the great memories from NYC, Chris, Jeremy, Steve and everybody associated with Through A Glass who helped me bring ‘Lady’ to life, Brad, Tina, and Sophie, Adrian and Aida, Al, Amber, Ava, and Cole, the Kernel, Henry, Barb, Kam and everybody associated with USC First Team, Molyneaux and the guy who sat to the left of us all season for the unsolicited running commentary through the roughest Trojan season so far, Shane for looking at my script, Lisa for the screening invites, the folks at Markee Magazine, the folks at GQ Magazine, Ralph and my friends at Black Entertainment Television, the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival, Randy, Jason, and my Stark Family (I owe you guys lunch dates in 2010 if you call me out on it), Doug, Christine, James, David and the entire Pigskin League for letting me back in (Compton is back and he’s here to stay you suckas!!!!), Aaron, Ama, and De’sha of course (you didn’t think I’d forget?), my Facebook Fam, my Twitter Fam, Monica (saving the best for almost last, how you like that?), Pops, Mom, and Sheena, B and Tracee, and last but definitely not least, everyone who comes here to check out what’s on my mind, whether you stop by daily, weekly, monthly, or whenever, it’s much appreciated, and it keeps me writing.

Happy Holidays to all and stay blessed.  2010 is already looking like it’s going to be something else!

M

5. Changing Gears

While I certainly doubt I’ve hung up my director’s hat forever, my time as an ‘indie film director’ has come to an end (on a high note at that – #7).  My feel for the craft is on point, but now that putting money away for my future is my number one priority, I can’t take on the same risks I could take earlier (#6).  Writing it out makes it seem obvious, but I’m putting all my energy into the talents that don’t cost me money to show off.  And truth be told, I miss being the ‘Prince of Gotham.’  Along those lines, my high class move in 2009 was…

4. Cavalleria Rusticana at the Met

As someone who has watched Raging Bull and the Godfather Part III at least a hundred times each, I’ve grown very fond of the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana.  So first I heard the Met in NYC was going to put on the show around Easter…and one of my college roommates just happens to be a lawyer in NYC…and my musically inclined ace just happened to be right down the road in Boston…and at the time the economy hadn’t caught up to me just yet…

That four day weekend in NYC was my first ‘adult’ vacation, but man, that didn’t stop us from having a great time.  A little opera, a little jazz, a little Junior’s: perfect getaway.  Ten years ago, I would have made a little indie movie about that weekend, but then again, ten years ago I would have been too ‘cool’ to go to the opera, so it is what it is.

3. Twitter

and really, the overall growth/importance of social media/networking.  The global village is here folks, today, right now.  This is a definite ‘did the chicken come before the egg’ argument, but with me simultaneously promoting/pushing ‘Lady’ (#7), and building the blog with content like ‘Limitless’ and the Most Important TV/Film Lists, I’ve managed to build a nice little audience.  Either through direct contact or looking out the stats the system generated, I know I have regular readers in Europe, Asia, Africa, and of course my home continent.  Even five years ago, how hard would it be to promote yourself without at least one studio film or TV show under your belt?  It’s been a great tool professionally, and it’s been just as much fun interacting with friends old and new.

2. Very Smart Brothas

For being the most consistently funny brothas blogging at the moment.  I spent many nights winding down, just to get caught up in a ‘wake the neighbors up chuckle’ from whatever silliness Champ and Panama brought to the table.  Sometimes it was a long column about relationships, sometimes it was proving that, sometimes, the picture really is worth a thousand words…

And honorable mention in the ‘Things That Routinely Made Me Laugh’ category for 2009 goes to: The Most Interesting Man in the World campaign (Dos Equis), the Kobe/LeBron puppets (Nike), and as usual, the Jack in the Box commercials.

Champ and Panama of course did a column about what I (and a lot of you) will probably remember the most about this year…

Number One

Looking out, across the nighttime

The city winks a sleepless eye…

Hear her voice, shake my window

Sweet seducing sighs…

Get me out, into the nightime

Four walls won’t hold me tonight…

If this town, is just an apple

Then let me take a bite

If they say, why? why?  Tell ‘em that it’s human nature

Why? Why? Does he do me that way?

If they say, why? why? Tell ‘em that it’s human nature

Why? Why? Does he me do that way?

Reaching out, to touch a stranger

Electric eyes are everywhere

See that girl?  She knows I’m watching…

She likes the way I stare

[Chorus]

Looking out, across the morning

Where the city’s heart begins to beat…

Reaching out, I touch her shoulder

I’m dreaming of the Street…

[Chorus]

Rest in Peace, Brittany.

Looking back on it, the past 12 months have been a benchmark year for me, personally and professionally.  We’ll see how this new decade plays out, but at the moment this feels like the year where all the various ‘instruments’ that are playing the soundtrack of my life are starting to all play the same song.  Here are 10 examples to explain what I’m talking about…

10. Beatles Rock Band

Yeah I’ve been hip to the Beatles for years as a music lover, but a video game of all things introduces me to another 7 or 8 songs that I somehow missed, including this little ditty that’s instantly moved to the top of my playlist:

Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun, if the sun don’t come

You get a tan from standing in the English rain.

I am the eggman, they are the eggmen – I am the walrus, GOO GOO GOO JOOB

Expert texpert choking smokers don’t you think the joker laughs at you?  Ha ha ha!

See how they smile, like pigs in a sty, see how they snied.  I’m crying…

Semolina pilchard climbing up the Eiffel Tower.

Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna, man you should have seen them kicking

Edgar Allen Poe.

I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus GOO GOO GOO JOOB…

And if you don’t understand why I love that, you’ve COMPLETELY missed the boat on the nonconformist aspect to my personality.  Other video games I really enjoyed this year were Fight Night Round 4, and of course Batman: Arkham Asylum.

9. Love

So it was a little more than four years ago that I made this proclamation to my Circle (this is the Short Version): I’ve done Vegas/L.A./NYC/Texas/New Orleans/Miami.  I’ve done everything I feel I HAD to do as a bachelor, I’m ready to start working toward the big One.”  And as you would expect, the mental transition from “I’m just looking to have fun’ to “I’m looking for substance” has not always been a smooth one.  And that’s just the internal monologue; then there’s the whole ‘what type of woman really gets me?’ aspect.  As I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way), long term relationships are built on ‘clicking’ on several levels, not just one or two.

Four years into dating with serious intentions, this was the year where I finally identified my ‘type’.  With little exception, every woman who gets me (platonically, professionally, sexually, romantically) shares certain traits.  So that’s made it much easier on who to focus my attention on, and as a result, dating is actually fun again.  Not by coincidence I think, I was smitten twice in 2009.  As one of my buddies will testify, one young lady had me so smote I think I shattered the record for the number of times someone has listened to “I Saw Her Standing There” (#10) in one day.  Before anyone blows up my phone, nothing is imminent.  I’m just saying I’m on the right track (finally!)

8. The Ummah

#9 is moving in the right direction in part I imagine because I’ve steadily invested more of my time within my community.  One of my friends asked me how it compares.  The answer is simple: there are Muslims who drink and smoke, there are extreme fundamentalists (you’ve probably heard about them), and there are blue eyed, blonde white girls who are Muslim. In other words, Muslims come in every shape, size, color, and philosophical background, just like everybody else.

Other than missing a friend’s wedding, my first summer Ramadan wasn’t too bad.  I celebrated both Eids this year; I’ve taken the next step in learning Arabic beyond my prayers.  As it seems the attacks on Islam are getting more bold and out of pocket, I’m doing what I can to better myself as a Muslim, especially one with a certain level of visibility.  That visiblity this year was most related to…

7. Lady In My Life

Last night was definitely the most surreal night I had in 2009.  I show up a few minutes late to my own screening.  The usher leads me into the darkened theater, where I hear my voice booming out in Dolby Surround Sound.  I look up at the screen to see a giant closeup of my own face.  The audience laughs at jokes I wrote; the women ‘aww’ during the sweet romantic moment.  And the crowd applauds when my name appears on screen.

I walk out and people recognize me and smile at me.  And as I leave South Central, Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” comes on the radio.  And at that moment I realize, ‘I didn’t have to use my AK today either…”

(Oh come on, that last line was a little funny…)

6. Money, Money, Money, Money…Mo-Nay!

So here are a few of the financial decisions I made this year: I pulled from my 401k to pay off my film.  I turned down (hopefully) my first six figure offer because it was overseas and we couldn’t get the paperwork sorted.  I had to rob Peter to pay Paul in a few instances.  Or as I like to call them collectively, “Things You Absolutely Can’t Do Once You Have Others Dependent on You for Financial Stability.”  I’ve lost 20 pounds due to changing my diet (I’m more or less a vegan now), Aziz Manor will be rebuilt ‘just the way it was, brick for brick’ (if you can’t guess where that line is from, you need to leave now), and while I’ve gotten away with taking that risk once again, it was the last time, which leads to #5…

Which is where Part 2 will pick up!