Will I Be Voting for a Democrat This Year???

Ok.  Wow.  Who doesn't love politics?  Isn't it fascinating?  You know, I don't think I've EVER written a political blog before.  I tend to stay away from topics that EVERYONE is talking about.  I figure there are enough opinions going around, mine won't be that unique.  But I just have to sound off on what's on my mind tonight...

So, I'm voting for Rudy this year.  I know he's probably just a footnote in our election by now... unless he wins Florida, which he's GOT to do.  But I like him.  And I'm going to vote for him on February 5.  But tonight, I think I've decided to make Hillary my #2 pick.  HILLARY?!  CLINTON?!  I have NEVER supported the Clintons before, and frankly, I'm surprised at myself.  Why Hillary?  Why now?  I guess after 16 years, she finally won me over.  I've been watching her pretty closely lately.  I actually like what she has to say... even though she hates George.  She's really smart, you know?  I like her perspectives.  And I like how she 'found her voice' in New Hampshire.  I appreciate her now.  I trust her now.  She became real to me.

So you know what that means, don't you?  If Rudy doesn't get the nomination (and he probably won't).  I'll be voting for my first Democrat EVER!  And it's a CLINTON!  What's coming over me?  Maybe I AM becoming a Californian afterall...

I have dreams.  So many dreams...

I have a dream of running a retreat center for men.  It would be a place that men can come for a few days and find relaxation and recreation.  But more importantly, it would be a place where men can get in touch with their spirit.  It would be a place where they could engage in classes dealing with issues such as 'Building Better Relationships', 'Being a Better Father', or 'Growing in God'.  They would be able to participate in group therapy and individual therapy.  They would learn how to be vulnerable and learn how to get in touch with their emotions and how to develop intimacy.  I want to teach men how to be authentic.

I have a dream of opening a cafe.  It would be a place where people can come and relax and have a bite to eat.  They would enjoy a comfortable environment.  They would drink coffee.  They would read.  They would connect with others.  And if they needed to talk out some issues, they could talk to me.  I have dreams of a 'Therapeutic Cafe'.

I have a dream of traveling and lecturing.  I want to teach people how to live successfully.  I want to teach people how to thrive in their spirit.  I want to teach people how to get in touch with God.  I want to conduct workshops.  And I want to inspire people to pursue greatness.

I have a dream of writing.  I want to develop articles and books.  I want my work to be read by the masses.  I want to inspire people to dig deeper into their souls.  I want to teach people how to find themselves.  And I want to develop programming that will be broadcasted nationally.  I want to develop series that will take a look inwardly while entertaining outwardly.

I have a dream.  Lord, lead the way...

Do you love life?  I tell you what, I do.  It's so amazing.  I think about my life.  It's been such an incredible  journey.  It really has.  I've been so many places in my life.  I've experienced so many things.  I'm blown away.  So now I find myself in Palm Springs.  How did I get here?  God is so mysterious.  And unpredictable!  I never would have imagined that this would be my life.  I became such an LA boy, you know?  But somehow I feel more like myself here.  It's a really peaceful time of life for me.  It's amazing. 

 Palm Springs is really beautiful.  It truly is.  It's such an oasis.  I have this new job as a tour guide.  I will be taking people out into the desert and showing them the wonders of this land here.  We'll be going to Joshua Tree National Park, the San Andreas Fault, and other really interesting places.  It's going to be amazing.  And I really like my new boss.  He's really a great guy.  It's going to be such a nice change from my last job... 

Life is good.  God is good.  What an adventure.

I don't know...  I think I'm done with xanga for awhile.  You guys know I've been taking a break.  I'm really enjoying being private.  It's a really nice change for me.  Here's the thing...  I think I'm over Hollywood.  You know, part of this blog has been documenting the Alabama boy's journey to LA and the adventures that followed.  Well, I did Hollywood.  Yeah, it was fun.  But I'm over it.  As far as my writing career, it's on the back-burner.  Maybe that's why I'm not enthused about xanga right now.  I just don't feel like writing.  I've been through a storm at work, but I'm on the other side of it, and I'm really finding satisfaction in what I do now.  I just want to succeed where I am and just live my life.  I have a good life here.  I have great friends, great career, great church.  Nothing's missing.  I just want to be simple.  And I don't feel like talking about everything that I do anymore.  I may come back here from time to time, but I may not visit many sites.  I just need to be simple.  I hope you're doing well.

Peace.

jeff

When I was sixteen years old, Ricky Nelson visited my hometown.  His friend and former band-mate,  Pat Upton, had a nightclub there, and Ricky came to town and performed to a packed crowd.  Guntersville, Alabama doesn't see very many celebrities, and this was a big deal in my sleepy southern town.  It was December 31, 1985, and Ricky Nelson flew on a small plane after the concert from Guntersville Airport and died when the plane crashed outside DeKalb, Texas.  Ricky Nelson was forty-five years old.

  I wasn't around when Ricky, his brother David, and their parents, Ozzie and Harriet graced the airwaves and appeared in living rooms across the country.  And it was before my time when Ricky Nelson was a star on the pop charts.  But I've always been a fan of the Nelson family, especially Ricky's children.  Ok, so I was never very fond of his twin sons who became the blonde-headed rock stars of the early nineties who simply called themselves by their famous last name.  Remember Nelson?  But, yes, I was a HUGE fan of their sister who played snobby Valley  Girl, Jennifer DeNuccio, on that seminal TV show of the early eighties, Square Pegs.  You know, the one where Sarah Jessica Parker was a nerd.  It's called classic television...            

Yes, I was a huge fan of that show.  I guess I could relate to being a square peg in a world of jocks and pretty girls.  Jennifer DeNuccio represented all the girls I could only look at from a distance.  She represented all the girls that were out of my league.  And Tracy Nelson played her with much finesse.

Tracy went on to appear in other television shows including The Father Dowling Mysteries and Melrose Place, but she has pretty much gone under the radar for the past few years.  I haven't really considered Tracy Nelson for a long time.  Until the other day...

So I was at an event with a friend.  It was nice.  Good food.  Lots of people.  Pretty weather.  Everyone was really friendly.  We were mingling and meeting people when we realized we were standing next to a woman who looked strangely familiar.  We looked at each other, and she extended her hand and said, "Hi, I'm Tracy," and I realized that I was meeting Jennifer DeNuccio right there in the flesh!   I couldn't believe it. 

Only in LA can a former nerd from Alabama meet a former television beauty from Hollywood and bridge the gap between the square pegs of the world and the IT girls.  Now if I could only stand next to Lisa Welchel...