The Blogtastic Forum

Promise yourself…

Janelle Sumabat — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:04:33 +0000

I’m here at my parents’ house, watching The First 48 (I have morbid taste in shows sometimes) on A&E and felt like blogging a little bit.

I recently turned 25 (woohoo!) and had probably the best time I’ve had with all my friends in a long time. Dancing, drinking, and photographing (eek!) the night away. It was such a great feeling and added even more happiness to my birthday celebration.

Turning a year older is always an important milestone no matter what age. Each birthday marks another year God has given me on this earth to experience life and spend time with those that I love. Being my 25th year, it also marks my unofficial entrance into adulthood (*dun dun dun*.)

WOW. “Adulthood.” Does it mean having a house and kids? I see my childhood friends on Facebook and Myspace who are engaged, are already married, or have kids and its a bit crazy (crazy in a good way.) Does it mean having a career (not a job…a career)? I suppose. Those are indeed important aspects of “adulthood” but having those things doesn’t always mean you’re an adult. You’ve seen the talk shows — young people who have kids and can’t handle the responsibility but believe that because they are a certain age, they are entitled to the treatment “adults” get.

Being an adult requires balance and stability of mind/emotion and the strength, faith, and grace to handle life’s ups and downs. Most importantly, when we do enter the house-buying, career-reaching, baby-making phases in our lives and start to bestow our knowledge on the younger generation, we must leave footsteps that our kids and grandkids will be proud to follow.

I know I’m not all the way there but I’m learning…

(You may or may not have seen me post the passage below on Facebook and Myspace but putting up again couldn’t hurt.) I’m going to make it my habit to read it everyday to remind myself of the best way to live my life positively — its is too damn short to be negative.

***

PROMISE YOURSELF
by Christian D. Larson

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud work, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Biking the weekend

Dru Kelly — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:53:57 +0000

I’ve been busy this weekend enjoying the San Diego weather and the scenery. To add to that enjoyment, I have never been happier about my bike-related purchases.

I haven’t been able to hit up the gym lately and I’ve been meaning to interject some exercise into my daily routine. I also thought about being able to save money from getting gas and not being so dependent on driving.

Why drive to work when it’s only four blocks away?

But this weekend, Janelle, Justin, Sis, Dad and I biked from Mission Bay to, Pacific Beach, Belmont Park, around Sea World and back, all in one night! I wish I was able to plot my trail so I could see how many miles we’ve covered. The very next day, we biked most of the 56 trail, from Black Mountain to Carmel Valley and back. The downhill was definitely a lot of fun but the uphill proved to be rigorous. I almost gave up one time but felt accomplished I completed the trail without getting off the bike. And today, just eased up on biking Nobel, near my parents.

I’d have to say that night bike riding is a lot more fun and it’s not as hot. I’m excited to discover more bike trails in San Diego!

Who’s Watching The Watchmen?

Dru Kelly — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:57:07 +0000

I don’t know I became a transplanted Watchmen fanatic. I read an article on Gizmodo about how you can watch the Watchmen trailer the day before The Dark Knight’s opening in the theaters. I don’t know exactly what the pull was but I was hooked after watching the trailer!

I bought the graphic novel shortly after watching the trailer to find out for myself why it’s the most celebrated graphic novel of all time. It took me about a good week to finish reading it. It was the most enjoyable reading I’ve done for as long as I remember.

The movie is not due until March. When I’m excited about something, I get impatient and need my fix of whatever it is I’m passionate about. So, what am I do in the mean time while waiting for the movie?

Read the Watchmen Blog: http://rss.warnerbros.com/watchmen/.
Surf through the official flickr Watchmen photos photostream.
Download a free episode of the animated graphic novel on iTunes: iTunes Direct Link
Read the wikipedia entry on Watchmen. WARNING: Potential spoilers.

Please comment if you have anything to add to the list! Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Wordpress Tee

Dru Kelly — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:47:10 +0000

My Wordpress tshirt finally came in the mail! I was suprised to receive the shipment so quickly. I ordered it on Tuesday/Wednesday and I got it Friday afternoon.

My friends kidded with me that I’m a nerd for buying this tee. What can I say? Wordpress is awesome like that.

Impeach Bush?

Jeronathon Angeles — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:48:29 +0000

I watched this video and I agree with the person testifying. Why in our infinite wisdom is it ok to attempt to impeach President Clinton for what he did, and its forbidden to even mention the possibiity of impeaching our current President for what he has done? Watch the video after the break.

The night is Darkest before the Dawn

Jeronathon Angeles — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:47:00 +0000

It isn’t often I write a blog, and even less often I talk about movies. I have always loved watching movies about superheroes, and Batman has been one of the favorites.

Christopher Nolan did a great job with Batman Begins showing us how the Dark Knight got his start. What separates these two films from the all the previous Batman installments is the focus on storytelling. I would classify this as an action packed drama in the form of a comic. The films, semi-non-linear chronology kind of resembles the feeling of a comic book. When you look at a comic, you are most likely seeing two or three different frames at the same time–seeing different parts of the story unfold. The way the movie was cut was similar, scenes were often overlapped with each other adding to the suspense and making the 2 hour plus movie breeze by.

In the Dark Knight, we see the developing stages of the main characters in this comic series– The Joker’s assent into the ranks of Gotham’s super villains, Harvey Dent’s fall from grace and transformation into Two Face, and Batman finally embracing his roll as Gotham’s Dark Knight. I loved the dynamic between Joker and Batman throughout the movie. As Joker points out they are both outcasts, The cops are to Batman what the Mob is to Joker. Joker has no allegiance, he wants to show the world that everything is corruptable. Batman wants to show the world that there is good in the world. In a way they are both right.

Maggie Gyllenhall. Is this too short of a paragraph? I just wanted to mention her cuz she was a great part of the movie. Not a real character from the comics i think but played an important part in charcter development.

I could see this movie three times. Oh yah thats right, I did.

Ok, that is my first official movie review. GO SEE IT.

Comic Con Preview Night is tonight!

Dru Kelly — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:05:00 +0000

Unfortunately, I won’t be going to the Comic Con this year due to my busy schedule. But it’s not going to stop me to talk about it! I’m filled with Comic Con envy, I’m almost willing to do anything to get a four-day pass. Check out what my schedule would’ve been after the break.

Preview Night

6:00–7:30 and 7:30-9:00 Fringe Pilot Screenings—Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly present two exclusive premiere screenings of the pilot episode of Fringe, the highly anticipated new FOX series from J.J. Abrams (Lost), Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the team behind the upcoming Star Trek feature, Mission: Impossible 3 and Alias. When an international flight lands at Boston’s Logan Airport and the passengers and crew have all died grisly deaths, FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv, The Pacific) is called in to investigate. When the search nearly kills her partner, Special Agent John Scott (Mark Valley, Boston Legal), a desperate Olivia searches frantically for someone to help, leading her to Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), our generation’s Einstein. There’s only one catch: He’s been institutionalized for the last 20 years, and the only way to question him requires pulling his estranged son, Peter (Josh Jackson, Shutter), in to help. Under Special Agent Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick, The Wire), our trio will discover that what happened on that fatal flight is only a small piece of a larger, more shocking truth. Fringe also stars Kirk Acevedo (Oz), Blair Brown (The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd) and Jasika Nicole (The Mastersons of Manhattan). From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe premieres September 9 and airs Tuesdays at 9:00 PM on FOX. (Please note: we will clear the room between screenings. Seating is limited. Pick the screening time that works best for you!) Ballroom 20

Thursdsay

10:00-11:00 The Gene Roddenberry Legacy: Roddenberry in the 21st Century— Building on his father’s legacy with Star Trek, Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Productions are bringing the Roddenberry philosophy into the 21st century, through their work on the forthcoming feature documentary Trek Nation, as well as the development of original content in webcomics such as Rod & Barry and Gene’s Journal. This panel features exclusive Comic-Con looks at new Roddenberry content and projects currently in development. Featuring Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Trevor Roth (COO of Roddenberry Productions), and Allen Holzman (Emmy Award winning editor). Room 10

11:15-12:15 30th Anniversary Battlestar Galactica Panel— Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek/Apollo), Bear McCreary (BG composer), producer Tom DeSanto (Transformers, X-Men), Dr. Kevin Grazier (science consultant), and surprise guests present an in-depth discussion of the Battlestar universe from the classic to the re-imagined and beyond, including BSG trailers and Q&A. Room 6B

11:30-1:00 20th Century Fox: The Day The Earth Stood Still and Max Payne—

Stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, plus director Scott Derrickson and producer Erwin Stoff, present an exclusive look at The Day The Earth Stood Still, Fox’s contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Keanu is Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance, a woman (Jennifer) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission—and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described “friend to the Earth.” Klaatu Barada Nikto.

The legendary interactive video game Max Payne comes to the big screen, telling the story of a maverick cop determined to track down those responsible for the brutal murder of his family and partner. Hell-bent on revenge, his obsessive investigation takes him on a nightmare journey into a dark underworld. As the mystery deepens, Max is forced to battle enemies beyond the natural world and face an unthinkable betrayal. “Max Payne” himself—Mark Wahlberg—will be on hand with Mila Kunis, Ludacris, and director John Moore to discuss turning the game’s noirish, hard-hitting, and complex world and characters into a movie event.

2:15-3:15 Halo Wars and the Halo Universe— Prima Games, Tor Books, McFarlane Toys, and Microsoft Games Studio bring you an in-depth panel discussion on all things Halo. Panelists include Eric Nylund, author of Halo: The Fall of Reach and Halo: First Strike Onyx; Tobias Buckell, author of the upcoming novel Halo: The Cole Protocol; game universe writers Graeme Devine (Halo Wars) and Frank O’Connor (Halo Trilogy); and Jon Goff and Corrinne Robinson, McFarlane Toys’ brand management team for Halo action figures. Room 6A

3:15-4:15 Capcom: The Making of Street Fighter IV— Producer Yoshinoro Ono (Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams) and associate producer David Crislip deliver an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the making of the much-anticipated Street Fighter IV video game, featuring the design of classic and new characters, creating compelling gameplay. Also, a sneak peek at the animated SFIV minimovies being created to complement the game. There will be a Q&A session as well as Street Fighter-related surprises! Street Fighter cosplayers are highly encouraged to attend this event, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the Street Fighter franchise. Room 6CDEF

5:45-6:45 Showtime: Dexter— Showtime presents exclusives from the set of the highly anticipated third season of Dexter. Moderator Kristin Dos Santos (E!) presides over this revealing interview and Q&A session with the top stars and executive producers of Dexter, featuring Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Clyde Phillips, and John Goldwyn, plus a special guest! Room 6CDEF

8:30-10:00 Star Wars Fan Film Awards— It’s the 7th Annual Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge Awards! Brought to you by Lucasfilm, and hosted by San Diego Comic-Con International, the Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge honors the best promising Star Wars moviemakers. The top award is chosen by Star Wars writer/director George Lucas himself. Come see this year’s winning movies. Ballroom 20

Friday

11:55-1:00 Warner Bros.: Watchmen— A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock”— which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up —- but no less determined —- masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion—a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers —- Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who watches the Watchmen? Guest appearances TBA. Hall H

5:30-6:30 Penny Arcade— The creators of Penny Arcade are on hand for a one-hour open Q&A session about the game industry, their own foray into making games, PAX, webcomics, Child’s Play, and more! (Please do not bring them food. They do not know any better and will, in fact, eat it.) Room 5AB

7:15-9:15 Totally Rad Show— Hosts Alex Albrecht (Diggnation), Dan Trachtenberg, and Jeff Cannata bring their Webby Award–winning geek culture show to Comic-Con in their first ever live performance. Join the guys for an explosion of movie, video game, TV, and comic book news and reviews, and see what makes this Revision3 show such an Internet phenomenon. Room 7AB

8:30-10:00 Marvel/Lionsgate: Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow World Premiere!— Whenever the forces of evil threatened mankind, Earth’s mightiest heroes, the Avengers, were there to stop them—until they made the ultimate sacrifice in their final fight with the indestructible robot Ultron. But all was not lost, for Tony Stark (Iron Man) kept the children of the Avengers safe and raised them to become the teenage heroes of tomorrow. But it will take more than five teens to destroy the machine that defeated their parents. If these young heroes have any hope of winning, they must find the missing Hulk and come together as…the Next Avengers! Meet Craig Kyle (supervising producer), Gary Hartle (producer/supervising director), Christopher Yost (writer), and others involved in this new animated film and watch Next Avengers before its September 2, 2008 Blu-Ray and DVD release. Room 6A

Saturday

1:15-2:00 Warner Bros.: Terminator Salvation— In the highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise, set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in has been altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind. Hall H

2:00-3:00 Attack of the Show!— Attack of the Show! is G4’s irreverent interactive daily live “variety” show that paves the inside track to today’s entertainment, technology and pop culture. Hosts Kevin Pereira, Olivia Munn, comic book expert Blair Butler and show producers give fans a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how this show brings tech-obsessed viewers all the up-to-the-minute news on Internet culture, technology, comic books, gadgets, live events and more. Get a glimpse of a day in the life of a daily tech show. Room 3

2:15-3:15 Battlestar Galactica— Last year, Battlestar Galactica took San Diego by storm. Now the best show on television returns to Comic-Con for a panel filled with excitement, laughter, and a sneak peek into the final revelation. Focusing on the character relationships that give this hit series its power, this exclusive panel sheds new light on the ties between Humans and Cylons and provides valuable insight into the adventure ahead. Panelists include cast members Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Michael Trucco, and Katee Sackhoff and executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, along with moderator Kevin Smith. Ballroom 20

3:30-4:30 Xbox Creators’ Showcase: Gears of War 2 and Fable 2— Join legendary videogame designers Peter Molyneux (Lionhead Studios) and Cliff Bleszinski (Epic Games) for a sneak peak at their highly anticipated holiday blockbusters, Fable 2 and Gears of War 2. Get a glimpse of these highly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusives, and have a chance to speak directly with Peter and Cliff during the Q&A session! Room 6B

4:00-5:00 Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack— Jay Glatfelter and Jack Glatfelter have one of the oldest and biggest podcasts dedicated to ABC’S Lost with The Lost Podcast. Learn about the huge, dedicated online community for TV’s most mind twisting drama. Join Jay and Jack for this special interview and Q&A session! Room 24A

5:00-6:00 The Dead Space IP— Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and Antony Johnston (Wasteland) lead a panel that includes Chuck Patton, AJ Jothikumar and Joe Goyette (Dead Space animated feature) to discuss how graphic novels have become a vital component for top-tier entertainment brands and how multiple mediums (comics, games, and movies) have come together to create a holistic story. While famous comics have spawned successful movies, TV shows, and games, Electronic Arts’ new sci-fi horror brand Dead Space has developed a comics series and animated feature to first introduce the universe to key opinion leaders and influencers. Panelists will discuss these new developments, what it takes to develop a successful brand that speaks to audiences across a variety of multimedia, and the implications for the future of the entertainment industry. Room 2

6:00-7:00 Capcom Presents: The Making of Bionic Commando and Bionic Commando Rearmed— Producer Ben Judd presents an exclusive, never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes peek at the making of the Bionic Commando Rearmed and Bionic Commando for the next gen game systems. Andy Diggle (The Losers, Swamp Thing) discusses writing the Bionic Commando webcomic. Select audience members will be invited to take part in a special Bionic Commando Rearmed gaming tournament to win exclusive Bionic Commando prizes! Plus, meet the real Bionic Commando in person for photos. Q&A session to round out the presentation. Room 2

Sunday

10:00-11:00 Smallville Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con favorite Smallville returns with series stars Allison Mack, Justin Hartley and the introduction of Sam Witwer alongside new showrunners Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer to talk about the year ahead, answer fan questions and give an exclusive sneak peek at clips featuring the new villains for season eight. Award-winning comic book writer, Emmy-nominated film and television writer/producer, and Smallville alum Jeph Loeb (Heroes) will moderate the session. From Tollin/Robbins Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Smallville airs Thursdays at 8:00 PM on The CW. Room 6CDEF

10:30-11:30 Marvel: Women in Marvel— She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel are powerhouses in the Marvel U, now meet the real women powerhouses who work in Marvel Comics today! Writers Robin Furth (Dark Tower), Marjorie Liu (NYX), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Lords of Avalon), Jen Grunwald (editor), colorist Christina Strain (Runaways), and Occasional Superheroine’s Valerie D’Orazio are here to answer your question about their titles, announce new projects, and explain how more women are breaking into comics every day! Room 6A

12:00-12:45 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay— Comedy legends Harold, Kumar, and NPH (Kal Penn, John Cho, and Neil Patrick Harris) appear live and in-person ato talk about the creation of their latest masterpiece—Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay—available on DVD on July 29. Don’t miss the stars of this cult classic comedy franchise as they talk about their experiences making the films and the plethora of extras features on the DVD including “Dude, Change the Movie!” where the viewer decides what Harold and Kumar do next. Ballroom 20

3:30-4:30 Dave Gibbons— He’s the artist behind the cult classic Watchmen, one of the writers behind Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, and the hidden genius behind countless other titles. We’re talking about Dave Gibbons. Be front and center when Dave talks about his art, his writing, and his love for comics. Moderated by DC VP–sales Bob Wayne, this program is not to be missed! Room 7AB

Source: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/

I copied/pasted these directly from Comic Con’s website. It sure took me awhile to sift through these! There you have it! After reading these, I realized how much of a nerd I am. (sigh)

iPhone/App Store crazy!

Janelle Sumabat — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:01:36 +0000

So I guess I’ve been sucked back into the wonderful world that we know as blogging. This should make for a tantalizing distraction during my every busy workdays :). Hopefully SOMEONE or SOMEONES (yes…I know that is not a word) will stumble upon this and take the time to read our blog. We ARE afterall — the BLOGTASTIC DUO!

I had begun writing out my “to do” list for tomorrow and I got distracted with the apps on my new iPhone. In case you hadn’t read…I’s gots me an new iPhone *smug grin* I didn’t think I needed one but they had some in stock at Fashion Valley and all of sudden I had to have it. I originally wanted the 8gb/black model but got the 16gb/white one instead. In my defense, that’s all they had in stock so I was forced to get it…I had no choice! It feels so sexy in my hands — GRAWR! Getting the app store set-up was a bit of a pain but it has since been fixed and I have gone app crazy! Shoot. I have enough space ;).

Hahaha…my favorite (ridiculous) app is the PhoneSaber app. I am living the dream folks…I’m living the dream.

Anyhoodles, I have to go get my nails did. Peas Owt!

New Rules to Rise Above Whatever is in Your Way

Dru Kelly — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:05:04 +0000

This one was emailed to me by my friend, CJ:

The main reason we must always remember to hold our chin up whenever negative thoughts try to drag us down is that whichever direction we choose first, in that moment, is the one the rest of us will follow. — Guy Finley

Rebecca had decided that her best chance of getting hired by a company doing geological survey work in the Alaskan wilderness was to earn a private license to fly twin-engine planes. A few days later she began taking lessons from a wise old bush pilot, highly respected throughout the region for his cool and collected ways of dealing with the worst possible situations.

After the mandatory ground schooling, at which Rebecca excelled, and during her fourth lesson in the sky, the flight instructor gave her what she thought was a special treat: Taking his hands off the yoke, he turned the flight controls over to her. There she was, just as she had dreamed, sitting tall in the copilots seat with the flight stick firmly in her hands.

Rebecca felt as though she was literally on “cloud 9″–at least, until a scant moment later when she found herself rudely awakened from her dream. She tried shaking her head to get rid of what was before her eyes, but that did not work. In the distance, through the windshield, she could see something rushing toward her faster than what she could think to do about it!

Right in the path of the plan, and seeming to have appeared out of nowhere, a huge snow-capped mountain lay dead ahead. Transfixed by its sheer mass, Rebecca found herself as frozen at the stick as were the iced and craggy peaks stretched out before her. And she was headed straight for them! A deep chill came into the cabin.

All along the wise old instructor was watching her closely, studying her reactions. Of course, she didn’t know it, but he had turned the controls over to her for just this test now taking place. He waited until the last moment he could, and was just about to take over again, when Rebecca snapped out of her fear-induced trance. She looked away from the mountain and turned to face him.

Then, in a voice so trembling and timid that it even scared her, she broke the tense silence of the moment. “Sir”, she said, “please take over the controls. I’m afraid we are about to crash!” His reply stunned her. “No”, he spoke quietly, “I don’t think I will. After all, it’s your flight.”

It was getting harder for her to take in a while breath, as if she were standing in the oxygen-thin air atop of the great white mountain ahead of them. Struggling to control her voice, she dug down into herself and managed to ask one more question of her teacher: “Then what should I do? Please, tell me what to do!”

She looked over at him again, and was surprised to see virtually no worry at all upon his face. His calm demeanor helped to steady her nerves. She took a deep breath and relaxed her hands that had just about chocked the life out of the control yoke. The next moment he gave her a short three-word instruction, and she knew everything would soon be all right. He simply said, “Change your altitude.”

“Of course,” her own mind echoed back to his command, and a split second later she pulled firmly back on the yoke; the craft responded by rising, and mere moments later the icy peak passed beneath her and out of sight.

As Rebecca sat there, relieved by the results of her actions, she was struck by two things at once: How could she have forgotten that the controls were in her hands, and at least as important, why had she been unable to remember this on her own? At that moment, soaring at ten thousand feet above the ground, she made a silent vow never again to forget the lesson of this day: She could choose her own altitude.

Doesn’t this short truth tale remind you of a certain kind of spiritual strength that you know belongs to you but that you have somehow forgotten or misplaced? It ought to; after all, how many of us look out ahead of ourselves at some unwanted event that looms too large and find ourselves feeling out of control…headed for what seems an unavoidable collision?

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to reach down inside of ourselves, grab hold of the controls of our own consciousness, and pull ourselves up? To quietly watch that would-be mountain of a problem, whatever it is, pass by harmlessly below us, even as we reach even-higher and happier skies?

We can learn to do this. Such a power is not just a pipe dream; ours is the ability to take conscious control of our spiritual altitude. But this greatest of gifts is given to us only in proportion to our willingness to awaken from those unconscious parts of ourselves that not only become transfixed before challenging events but are the secret creators of the very things into which we crash! This is why we must work in every moment to remain inwardly awake—to be aware of our attitude toward our life as it unfolds before and around us: so that whenever we find a negative attitude in ourselves—some form of dark thought or feeling trying to drag us down—we don’t say “I” to it. In a manner of speaking, we pull up and away from that part of ourselves by withdrawing our consent to be confined by how it would define us. This kind of conscious action on our part changes not only what we perceive as being possible in the moment, but it also empowers us– in the same moment– to see and make new and higher choices.

Seen or not, our attitude determines our altitude in life. The “low” life comes by default. Gravity guarantees we will reach the bottom. To go higher begins with choosing to be higher. Realizing that the powers to leave dark states beneath and behind us begins with recognizing that who we really are—our True Nature—has as much in common with self-limiting thoughts and feelings as does the open sky with the crow that wings through it!

Remember this one great lesson: Do the moment-to-moment work of dropping anything that wants to drag you down, and Truth itself will see to it that you rise.

Janelle gets the iPhone 3G

Dru Kelly — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:48:47 +0000

As soon as I got home today, I called all of the Apple Stores in San Diego: Otay Ranch, UTC and Fashion Valley. Not much luck with the first two until I called Fashion Valley. They were only selling the white iPhones. Janelle wasn’t so keen on the white one. She was set on getting a black one just like me.

When I told her that they had a few in stock, she couldn’t wait any longer. We scurried to the closest Apple Retail Store and stood in line. Luckily enough, the line wasn’t very long.

We waited about two hours until someone could help us. Would you believe Janelle went shopping as I stood in line? She made me her line placeholder! Hehe, it’s okay. I would’ve done the same thing to kill time.

All in all, I’m happy that Janelle got her iPhone. Consider it her Birthday present