Sordid Lives

One of my favorite movies that teaches a lot of life lessons including unconditional love is "Sordid Lives." Leslie Jordan was fabulous in this movie (as he is in everything he does). He makes you laugh, makes you cry and plays one of the most unique roles I think ever created. Its one of those movies you can watch over and over if you just open your heart and your mind.

Beautiful Voices

Although these two women have very different styles of singing both, without a doubt, have the ability to stir my emotions. Sara Evans is the country girl with both fun pop singalong sounds as well as heartfelt ballads, and Oleta Adams sings "Get Her", one of my favorite songs of all time. It manages to bring a tear to my eye almost every time I hear it.

A different kind of mom

Lupe Ontiveros is known for playing two moms along with other roles, but she played two different types of moms in two different productions and showed her versatility as an actress, playing Selena's mom in "Selena" and Mrs. Solis, mother of Carlos on "Desperate Housewives", but geesh Housewives writers....run over and falling down the stairs for the same mom!

A dedication at 80

Cloris Leachman has been one of my favorite actresses through the years and on April 30th, this wonderful actress turned 80 years old (and here I am getting nervouse about 40!). She has been in over 200 productions, my favorite of which was Frau Blucher from "Young Frankenstein". Thanks Ms. Leachman for bringing SO MANY wonderful roles to life! You are truly one of the BEST!

On the road to success

Sometimes, as an autograph collector, I like to write to people who just seem to have that "something" that's going to make them go far in their careers. Three people I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot more of in the next several years are Patrick Flueger, Liza Snyder and Chris Carmack. I wish all three of these folks the best of luck in their careers!

A Horse With No Name

Reminiscing here again. "A Horse With No Name" by the Eagles, was one of my favorite songs when I was growing up. Cynthia Nixon was probably the closest to who I'd pick myself to be if I was one of the "Sex in the City" gals, but Cynthia, where's your name! This is the first autographed photo I've gotten in my years of collecting where the person forgot to sign their name, but the thought is still nice :)

Odd Advice

OK, I've been given some pretty bizarre advice through the course of my life , but I don't think any advice has been more bizarre than that of Kirsten Vangsness from "Criminal Minds" on the photo that she sent me..."Don't eat your own shorts!". Whew, thanks for reminding me Kirsten!

The Forty Year Old.....

Paul Rudd was hysterical in "The Forty Year Old Virgin", well virginity is long gone for me, but forty is right around the corner, and I think my mentality, spirituality, etc is no where near that of a 40 year old so still trying to figure out if its time to grow up and act my age....hmmmm....Nahhhhhhh!!!!

The Strong Will

One thing I've learned as my life has progresses is that even though I am not all that talented in a lot of areas, I can do better than others at things I'm not so good at due to my strong will. A wonderful example of being strong willed was Bruce Kanegai in Survivor Panama. He suffered through pain, suffering, and serious digestive problems much longer than most people would have sustained because he didn't want to quit. I've learned that making use of that strong will can help overcome insurmountable odds when the desire is there to do so.

Words of Wisdom

My latest Survivor success came from Hunter Ellis, a fan favorite even though he had such a short stay on the show. Hunter's gone on to do a lot with his career, and gave me some great advice in both applying for the show, and really, wisdom that can be used in life in general: "My best advice to you is simple....Be Yourself...But sell yourself and highlight things in your life you have accomplished or are passionate about that will make you stand out from the others..." Those are definitely words to live by.

Another dream vacation...by mail

I'm the kind of person who loves to travel, but with my job and living situation, its been something I've had to forego a lot of lately. At least my letters get to take trips to faraway places, and its even better when they come back. I wrote to Eric Bana in Australia and got this photo signed and returned back from him. Now if I could learn to package myself and go along for the journey!

Interesting Advice

Only one more Palau jury member to go after getting this collage back from Coby Archa with some great advice. Our true colors seem to come out under times of trial, or we let some monstrous side of us out that isn't who we are at all. These words came at a good time for me as life has been full of turmoil, and I've been getting a little lost as to what being "myself" is. Thanks Coby for unknowingly helping me get back on course with my life!

Persistence Pays off

Jeanne Hebert put some persistence into getting chosen for Survivor Amazon. She let me know in her letter that she was rejected twice for Thailand, and then made a phone call telling CBS that they were missing out and then got the call for Amazon. Great story. Unfortunately she was a victim of dumb Survivor playing and that ever so deadly tribal switch when she was on the show. I had her pegged to go far when the season started, but Dave/Butch/Roger chose to align with Heidi and get rid of fishing machine Jeanne, knowing that Heidi still had her allies on the other tribe...Dave and Roger got theirs not to much afterward.

To Eat or Not To Eat

In Guatemala the Final Four "Survivor" contestants were put in a dilemna when some tribal people did a sacrafice of a chicken to their gods. Stephenie asked after the sacrafice could be eaten when the ritual was over, and the tribesmen told her no; well her Danni and Lydia opted to go ahead and eat the chicken as they were starving, and Rafe felt it just wasn't right; and that they all should have adhered to the rituals and practices of the Guatemalans. I tried to think of what I would have done in that situation, and being that there were only a few days left, out of respect I probably would have chose abstinence, but one never knows. I don't know what I would do if faced with having gone with very little food for over a month...

Lawman, Outlaw, Soldier, Hellraiser

These are the words on the collage renowned actor Bruce Dern sent me. I tried to think of 4 nouns that would describe me, which was really hard. Adjectives are much easier...but here goes! Overachiever, Giver, Rebel, Competitor.....that's the best I can do with this big bump I've got on my head! haha