AIDS Walk New York 2013

AIDS Walk New York 2013

This is my second year walking with +AIDS Walk NY benefitting GMHC. Last year I walked alone, and although I had no team formed, I had a team of sponsors, amongst friends and family, but also included a celebrity. Yes! I was sponsored last year by +John Stamos. He donated $500.00 and I was the proudest walker last year. And this year I decided to make a stronger comeback by forming a team, Superhero Walkers, and beating last years' total of $950.00, which was only $50.00 from being a Star Walker. I was so close! Currently we have raised $1,385.00 thanks to all my sponsors and my Team Co-Captain, which made the Star Walkers status by the way. Although I have not recruited any celebrities yet, I have passed last years' total but I am still searching for that one celebrity to surprise me with their kind generosity. So please tick above or here, Superhero Walkers, to donate and be our hero.

John Stamos--my Champion Donor

I named my team Superhero Walkers 'cause I am a fan of them myself. My favourite one being Superman, but I do love them all, I brought the theme to the team 'cause when one is walking for a cause or one is donating for a cause, I believe they are being a hero. My team members who are walking, since I also have a few "Virtual Walkers" who, while not walking are still dedicated friends who are helping me achieve my goal from other states such as Florida and Pennsylvania, will be wearing superhero T-shirts on the day of the walk. I, as the team leader, will be wearing a Superman T-shirt, no surprise there, and my Co-Captain will be wearing a Captain America T-shirt, so you get the idea. 

 Go Co-Captain America !

The AIDS Walk New York will be held on Sunday 19 May, 2013 starting at Central Park's Columbus Circle entrance and heading up to the end of it at 110th Street and then coming back down on Riverside Drive and passing by my old High School on 84th Street, Louis D Brandeis High School, and ending back at Central Park for a total of 10 kilometres, rain or shine of course.

Now, it is hard raising funds but I also make it fun, I have offered my team members free $25.00 gift cards to the first 3 team members who raise $250.00 that I'll get from my rewards programs and just last Sunday I held a raffle for all current donors as of last Saturday who can win cool prizes that have been given away at functions to all team leaders. Watch the video to see them and the raffle itself. By the way there will be another raffle next Sunday 12 May for those of you who are in the procrastination stage so make your donations this week to be in the drawing!  

So hopefully these incentives and also this post can gather some more donations and hopefully some celebrity sponsors to help us achieve our team goal of $2,000.00!

"AIDS Walk Raffle"--Richard Michael

Cheers and Good Luck !

Not Myself

Not Myself

"Not Myself Tonight"--Christina Aguilera

Now I picked this personal favourite of mine because this post is about not being what others want us to be but to be ourselves. And I know +Christina Aguilera says she does NOT want to be herself, but listening and reading a little deeper we can find that maybe we should be this "Not Myself" more often than one night and that that side is more our truer side and we should not care to be any other way every day, and like she says, if they don't like it then F*** you !

I watched CBS This Morning and saw that this photographer had made it from the net to the news on TV. Her name is +Haley Morris-Cafiero and she is overweight and goes around the world taking pictures of herself, but the real subject of the photograph is the person directly behind her in different locations along with their reactions to her weight and her look. Check out her own website for more pictures of her project "Wait Watchers."

She is a very brave girl and I give her all the support and credit for doing what she does because I know others will have trouble finding it in themselves to look past society's judgemental eye and break free from what society sees as "normal" and "what should be," and just be themselves. And 'tis quite embarrassing, not only to her subjects after finding their facial expressions plastered all over the net, but to society as a whole that is so quick to judge and mock but with such outward display and disregard for the human heart. 

Haley has no control of her weight gain. It's contributed to a thyroid problem that cause increase in weight. She is like any other human that eats the sweets she desires. She holds a MFA in Art from University in Arizona, a BFA in Ceramics and BA in Photography from University of North Florida, and she is currently an Associate Professor and Head of Photography Department at Memphis College of Art. A curriculum that would put me to shame, I'd say, since I only have an Associates in Accounting and Business Management, so she is to be respected and not looked upon as an uneducated individual. If anything, the uneducated humans here are her subjects, and ignorant, had they any curiosity about our fellow humans and try for healthy interactions I dare say they might be saved from perils of idiocy. 

Cheers,

And be kind to one another.

Best 25 Quotes For Long Distance Relationships

"Best 25 Quotes For Long Distance Relationships"

Featured from Relationship Rules

 

 

  "Long Distance"--Bruno Mars

Never say never. We can never say that we will never try long distance relationships for it can sometimes happen to anyone without us wanting to do it. I mean, one day you are both settled into the routine of living together and working, and all of a sudden you have to relocate because of your job but your partner cannot, and there you are, apart, but you know 'tis only temporary. And then there are cases when flings occur with someone who you thought was a local now becomes long term...and long distance. How ever it started, it's worth every effort endured, every hour, every day, and every mile.

For all those loves that chose, or did not have a choice, to challenge yourselves and your love to a long distance relationship here is a cool link of quotes, that I found in Facebook, that might help along that distance. I can say that I understand from personal experience and have related to most of them in the past, and will honestly say that they are all true. (I am not responsible for the grammar or spelling errors on that link, by the way, but corrected them unto here.)

My favourite ones are:

 #23
"If ever there is a day when we're not together. There is something you should always remember.
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
But the most important thing is, even if we're apart...I'll always be with you."

#17
"On a silent night when friends are few,
I close my eyes and think of you,
A silent night, a silent tear,
A silent wish that you were here,
Miss you every minute."

#10
"Even though we are miles apart from each other,
nothing will ever change the feeling that I have for you,
you mean everything to me and I'd be lost without you."

#4
"Sometimes I lie awake looking at the sky,
seeing the stars as bright as your eyes,
I'm waiting impatiently to hear your voice,
if it was up to me there would be no choice,
lying beside you is where I would be,
just to be in your arms is all I need."

#2
     "Missing someone isn't about how long since you've seen them or the amount of time since you've talked to them.
It's about that very moment when you're doing something and wishing they were right there with you."

Cheers,

and keep Skyping!

Colon Cancer Awareness

Colon Cancer Awareness

Me and my partner have ventured into a project together. We create designs to commemorate and/or support loved ones who are struggling with varying illnesses, including cancers. They are designs for a cause and the picture of the loved one can be placed into the design and sold in 5x7 and 8x10 frames where proceeds will go to benefit those various causes, including various cancers. So we were especially sensitive to having watched this particular film.

Over the weekend me and my partner watched "A Little Bit of Heaven." Tick for Trailer. I found it appropriate to mention it in this blog about Colon Cancer. The main character, played by Kate Hudson, avoids getting serious about any relationship through her humour and then even when something really serious comes over her, like colon cancer, she still hides behind jokes and laughs to embrace the reality of the new direction her life has taken. A definite must watch drama filled with its comic moments, that will leave you feeling the need to live a little more, to re-examine your life and your health, to find your little bit of heaven and enjoy it just a little bit longer. A clever awareness tactic was this billboard below found in Minnesota.

Plymouth, Minnesota

This billboard is found on motorway 169 in Plymouth, Minnesota, and it's an eye opener. It seems this look is not limited to plumbers alone. But we all remember either saying, or at least thinking, "Cover your butt!" Well this is Minnesota Department of Health's clever way of bringing some tough love awareness to its people. The video below is brought about by USA Today and covers thoughts of some people who work right across from where the billboard is located, and employees from the Minnesota Department of Health. It also features a second billboard advertisement. The MDH feels adding some humour to a serious medical issue they feel that people won't feel so serious about getting a colonoscopy procedure done, and hopefully relieve some butt clenching pressure surrounding the procedure. And remember, crack kills, so get your butt covered!

 Billboard's butt clenching awareness to Colon Cancer

God's Mail

Gods' Mail (2011)

by Richard Michael

Hello brother, its been a long year, there's so much to tell

I wait to hear your voice again on your old cell

I know you've made your decision to go far away

I respect it now but I miss you every single day

By now you're probably getting used to it there

it's hard here without you, I still see you everywhere

when I go to school, the parks, or even just at the mall

it's like I'm still holding on and you haven't left me at all 

I wish I could get that hour back,

set everything back on track

that I could just say goodbye

So I write songs,  poems

and letters without fail

try to find comfort that God

will deliver my mail

The whole family took a vacation trip this August

we all missed you there, you should've been with us

I lost the opportunity to be a better brother it's a shame

I lost you and now without you I will never be the same

And wherever you are up there in heaven

I want you to know that we're uncles again

I Hope To Live

  "Everybody Hurts"--R.E.M.

 

 

I Hope To Live (2010, with an afterthought)

by Richard Michael

To have hoped is to have lost.

To have lost is to have loved.

To have loved is to have hurt.

To have hurt is to have been touched.

To have been touched is to have lived.

To have lived is to have died.

To have died is to hope you have lived.

But what happens when you've lost in love, lost hope in love?
And what happens when you've lost a family member and there's no lover to turn to?
And what happens when there's so much grief that you start losing everything else, your job, and your school is on the brink of collapsing?
Do you just surrender to loss and let it take its course of taking everything from you?
When hope is all there is, and that's even hanging by a thread, and your life is second to last, which of the two will you stand to lose?

You hang on, and then you start over.

Moments

"Little Moments"--Brad Paisley

He won't wear his glasses either! Well we met at a painting class, we were sitting perpendicular to each other drawing apples, and that was the conversation starter. We compared our apples, to see who's was better, and bigger, okay just who's was better. And yes, he's just as clumsy as she is at the end of this video ! But I live for the little moments as those too.

Moments

by Richard Michael with love to my Universe

 

I love you, I will love  you,

all of your to-days and to-morrows

through your days of joy

and through all your sorrows

and worry not for the yesterdays,

for still to come, are your best days

and our greatest moments.

Forgive (2010)

"Over You"--Miranda Lambert

You must watch this video in its entirety 'cause 'tis not 'til the end that you realise that this song is not about getting over a lover but someone who has passed. And when I first heard this song I saw it so fitting because so many times I had looked up to the sky and asked my brother the same question, "How Dare you?! You went away, I miss you!"

Forgive (2010)

by Richard Michael

Its now November twenty-seven

and two months you are up in heaven.

You took your life to escape this Earth

from the troubles and regrets from birth.

But you left all of us with the pain,

the remorse, the guilt, the tears and rain.

I know someday I must let you go,

I don't know when, how I just don't know.

For you to be in infinite peace

I know your blessed soul I must release.

I forgive you for leaving that day,

even though you left me in dismay,

forgive God for taking you away,

and forgive you for being astray.

So I must let go and say goodbye,

to let you be with God in the sky.

The Sweetest Melody

"The Sweetest Thing"--U2

The Sweetest Melody

by Richard Michael to my Universe

When first I ever took note of

His eyes
 

It bore the sweetest melody
 

His laugh
 

It struck the deepest chord in me
 

His smile
 

It tuned my broken heart anew

Altogether he was to dote upon

Cute Video of Lion Trying To Eat Baby At Zoo

Cute Video of Lion Trying To Eat Baby At Zoo

Chelsea Coffee
On wall

Chelsea Coffee

I was sitting at Chelsea Coffee (Yelp link) in Manhattan's Chelsea area looking for some inspiration from animal pictures and came across this video on the net. The coffee shop itself is pretty trendy and kept up with free Wi-Fi even. And I managed to notice the nature caused décor amongst the man made one. Even Mother Nature shines her blessing of equality for all.

No babies or animals were harmed

in the making of this video.

Now back to the baby, a one-year old named Jack. This family went to the Oregon Zoo in Oregon, and had their baby, preciously adorable by the way, dressed as, what seemed to the lion, like a baby zebra, in a black and white striped hoodie. And the baby is not even phased by it, nor scared, for it calls out "kitty kitty" while the lion is pawing at the protective glass and trying to envelop the cute baby in its jaw. The video clip below is a second shot at a different angle where "kitty" keeps trying his insatiable hunger for zebra.

No babies or animals were harmed

in the making of this video either.

The Story of Us

 "Our Song"--Taylor Swift

The Story of Us

 

The Book of Us
by David & Kate Marshall

I love stopping by +Barnes & Noble and looking at some great ideas. Of course this is one of them, a journal for couples called, "The Book of Us" written by David & Kate Marshall (tick for their web page). The authors also have "The Book of Myself" and "The Book of My Pet" for the single and pet owner. This book chronicles your love story in 150 prompts you are made to write about. We take turns writing, every other prompt, and meanwhile having added a sketchbook to draw about a prompt instead when we are not writing about it, so we do not miss a turn.

Table of Contents

Here is a list of contents highlighting the major milestones in the relationship, from introduction to the later years. Here are a few prompts, one from each stage, to think about; "If this had not happened, we never would have met..., We decided to do these important things before marrying..., We bought our first home..., This was particularly joyful for us as parents..., After we retired, we had more time to..." And 145 more. This makes for a great anniversary gift, or Valentine's Day gift that can walk you down memory lane with that special someone or preserve the precious memories as they happen, as in our case.

A List of Thing You Don't Need To Be Sorry About

"I Won't Apologise For Who I Am."--Selena Gomez

I saw on Kailynn's Facebook, who has a blog herself, an article by Zach Stafford who was featured in Thought Catalogue with a list of "37 Things You Don't Need To Be Sorry About," except this one is not quite 37 for I only left the ones that I myself am not sorry for, so tick above for a full list:


2. Telling someone how you feel. (I mean my tongue is a muscle, use it or lose it right?)
3. Ordering something better than a well drink. (Only on pay-day, or a happy hour deal)
4. Watching the Olympics in hopes a swimmers' Speedo falls off. (Praying even)
6. Not returning a text sent past midnight. (And saying, "oh I was asleep by then")
8. Talking about dating in front of children, especially if you’re gay. (Especially if there are parents within earshot)
9. Responding to emails too quickly. (I am always by a laptop, tablet, phone, who isn't?)
10. Being proactive. (I only left this here 'cause I almost tried it and that should count)
12. Speaking in a French accent when saying French words. (Or Italian, or Spanish, or English, or even in Sign Language)
13. Working too much. (Actually even regret having done so for a Co. that were jerks in the end.)
15. Openly crushing on people you may never meet. (Only famous people)
16. Wanting to make more money, and then doing it. (Actually I just ventured on this one)
17. Caring too much. (NEVER, kidding, of course I wont apologise for it)
18. Not having sex as much as people expect or want. (What they don't know won't hurt them)
20. Yelling when you want to yell. (I'm leaving this one here to remind me to JUST DO IT)
28. Wanting to love someone, and being scared to tell them. (one word, brother)
29. Having brunch on Sunday and then going to bed afterwards. (It's Sunday??)
32. Making a mistake and not learning from it the first time. ("Practise makes perfect", they said)
34. Only getting your news from Twitter. (even worse, Facebook!)
35. Being hung-over. (SO sorry some days)
36. Screening your family’s calls and later saying, “I was really busy!” ("No comment")

For the other items, or for all of you who haven't done any of these, we should start a "Bucket List," and do it, no regrets and no apologies, right?

Cheers!