Daycation

Hey crazy cats! I can't say that I did much today, as in terms of work. I took the day off and headed to the beach!...sort of.... I spent the day at Ana Maria Island and Coquina Beach, soaking in the sun. I can't begin to tell you all the fun I had there. I revisited an old spot where they make homemade ice cream. This place is a must on any body's list. They have a wide variety of flavors. Although it's a bit on the pricey side, you'll be more than glad to pay the price for this delight. If you're wondering the name off the place...well, so am I! I forgot it! I'll find out and let you guys know.

Later, I shot some pool. Now, I'm not the best pool player in the world, but I know when I'm getting hustled. All I have to say is I'm on to your game there, missy...lol. I wasn't born yesterday.

I did take a few pictures and have posted them on my facebook account. I love to share my pics. So, swing on by and have a look! There will be more to come.

Later that night, I had the most amazing..... sandwich ever...Wow, people! Really? Get your minds out of the gutter! I'm not that type of guy. However, those sandwiches were flipping good! Then again, I was hungry. I was still good though.

So that's pretty much it. I took a day off, went to the beach, took pictures, played pool, ate ice cream, ate a sandwich, and went home. Not a bad day!

Tomorrow is off to work...Arrggg! Oh well, it's the weekend. I have plenty to do this weekend. I'm calling this one short and sweet. Keep safe and dream big!

Quiet on the Set!

Hey crazy cats! Another hot day here in Florida! As we're fast approaching the weekend, I can say that my week has had a lot of ups and downs. Several good things have happened to me this week. Caribbean Sun Productions, or CSP, did a small PSA, or public service announcement. for a team of young, motivated individuals that are the future of hospital administration in a local hospital here in Tampa.

For those who don't know, I started CSP about three months ago. Since then, I've had so much work that I find myself pleasantly and excitedly overwhelmed with the amount of projects I'm getting. CSP had it's start right here, when I created SamVidBlog News. My friends continuously pushed me into starting the business and taking the leap of faith ( which I did....finally). Since then, I have been floored by the response I have received.

I love doing this. I love creating. I really didn't have the opportunity before. I guess I had to get rid of all the negative people around me. It's amazing what happens when you're surround by positive re enforcement.

So, back to the subject, the shoot went really well today. I worked with a bunch of individuals that really wanted to present a great product. It made the job so much easier. In fact, they were more eager than me! Even though we would have awesome takes, they would request another ( just in case). That says a lot about the level of commitment on their behalf.

To say that I feel so happy is an understatement. I feel like I'm on cloud nine. As a matter of fact, a couple of friends and I are working on an idea for a new show. Hopefully, it will come to be. I love doing shows. Truth be told though, I like it behind the camera rather than in front of it. However, if I'm needed in front of it, I will do it.

Well, I'm calling this one DOA. I have to get back to editing. Keep safe and dream big!

The Latent Image

Hello crazy cats! It's been awhile, but I'm back! (like a bad penny). I have great news, for all of those who have not been kept up to date with everything going on in my life. Caribbean Sun Productions is really off and running. We have several projects in the works and more clients keep coming! I feel great about all the positive things happening in my life. everything from my personal to my professional life is full of happiness. It's been a long road, but I finally feel great!

I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout these years. You have been my wings to take flight! There is a certain person that know that she means the world to me! You have truly become my good luck charm! Since you came into my life, I laugh again. The world is full of color once more! Thanks for being a goober!

Ok enough with the sappiness! If you haven't noticed (maybe you were under a rock), I have the CSP facebook page up. Click on the link and join the group. CSP is looking for people who want to try their hands at film. For right now, it is all done for the love of the art. However, soon that will change.

If you were to tell me that I was going to be at this moment five years ago, I would've said you were crazy. Done and out emotionally, I was at rock bottom. Like a wounded dog, left to die, I found myself. It was quite possibly the worst moment of my life. It was even worse than the time I lost my sister, who I love so very much. It seemed like I had no future.

It wasn't until someone special in my life gave me a swift kick in the pants that I started realizing my full potential ( thanks Dad and Julio). So what I was dealt a nasty hand in life. So what I suffered for my sins of my past. So what I had my life handed to me in a diaper by the person I trusted with my soul. So what Joey got a spin-off and it sucked! Oops...sorry.

That is the moment you find out who truly loves and cares for you. That is when you find out who is willing to walk with you when others leave. The thing is, it doesn't make you bitter. It makes you love even more. It makes you see that the world is not full of hate and misery. There is still love out there! It's all around us and in us.

A really good friend of mine calls me the Zen Master. I think she's nuts! lol... sorry Luz... She once said to me that I have an old soul with a child-like innocence. I don't know about all that. However, I try. It is hard at times, but I seem to have a good grasp of it all.

I was once asked if I were to come face to face with the worst of my enemies, what would I do? My response would be the only worst enemy I ever had was me. I'm over that now. I have found inner peace. I greet all the same, even those who have wronged me. I'm not perfect, far from it! I still get some mad rage when I hit my toe in the middle of the night. I'm just happy.

There are some few people left to reconcile with. However, I cannot make the first move. It isn't because of ego, I just don't know where they are. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe it's not time yet. Maybe, just maybe, a miracle will happen. Hey, who knows. We were great friends. This person knows that even though they chose to go, I still value our friendship. Maybe I'll go and pay this person a visit this week. ( and there you go thinking it was the ex-wife...lol. Sorry, I tried that one. I understand f*** you in ANY language! but hey, who knows..never say never.)

Anywho, I'm calling this one deep fried! Take care everyone. If you want to keep in the know, follow me on facebook and (occasionally) here. Keep safe and dream big!

Zen Soup

Hey crazy cats, I know that's it's been awhile and I know it's really gut wrenching to wait for so long for a new entry.... who am I kidding? Anywho, I have been busy with so many other things, but I do try. It isn't that I don't like to write anymore. It's just that I hardly have time.

Anywho, let me move on to the subject at hand. For the past few years, I have been on a journey. I haven't paid a ticket, nor do I travel to exotic lands anymore ( did it in the Navy). I actually think that this journey has been the most fulfilling one of my life. As you've guessed it, I'm talking about finding out who am I.

It all started in 2005. I left on a cold January day for parts unknown in the Persian Gulf. What started out as a six month sea tour, has become a journey to find out who I am and why I am. Many people think that this makes a person a little self-centered, if not careful. However, the true journey makes one grow and realize the way one can grow and try to reach their full potential.

Many times, when an life-altering event happens in one's life, we tend to look at only the negatives of the event. If we look a little beyond the obvious, we find a full resource of knowledge. It's very easy to fall into depression or low self-esteem, if we let it control us.

Also, we, as humans, tend to shift the blame elsewhere. We reluctantly accept responsibility for outcomes of our actions. We see the acceptance as a weakness and not as a device to help us achieve a higher level of ones growth. We must remember that to err is human. It is ok to make a mistake. It is not ok to totally deny what happened.

What happens if the mistake or misfortune comes as a result of a series of unfortunate events? What happens if the the misfortune only needed a little dedication and we decide not to pursue it? It is not easy to see the future. It is not easy to accept that sometimes our actions become ultimatums that we purposely or involuntarily set on ourselves.

I have come to the realization and acceptance that my time I spent in the service and away from home, when my presence could've been a defining moment, may have played in part to the problems I had later. Without going into details, I truly do regret for causing pain to all around me. Although I believed with all my heart that I was doing right, I was actually doing damage. Back then, I didn't see this. Back then, I thought I was soley right. I have grown since then.

This was a catalyse that set in motion the start of a new day. I realized that life isn't about right or wrong. The world isn't black or white (thank God). It's actually full of diverse colors, from the darkest of dark; to the most brilliant of brights. There are definitely many sides to any issue. It just depends on one's willingness to accept this information and actually try to see it.

So this bit of info has brought me to where I am today. I have grown and continue to do so. No longer am I the person whose sole intent was to win an argument or fight. I now seek knowledge. i try very hard to see the world as others see it. If I agree with it, I incorporate it into my life. If I don't agree, I respect that person's viewpoint. Everyone has a right to what they believe in.

As for deep rooted anger and the unwillingness to even talk to the person, well...that's very petty and immature. There is no need for such drama. If we all just gave a moment to reason, we would see that it does us more harm than good. It is better to move on from that.

"Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free and realize that you were the prisoner." That sums it up. We mustn't just forgive others who have wronged us. We must forgive ourselves too. You would be very surprised what you can accomplish when you forgive yourself. Things will turn around.

Anyway crazy cats, I'm calling it done. Hope you enjoyed this entry's rants and raves. have a safe week. As always..... Keep safe and dream big!

Here We Come to Save the Day!

Hey crazy cats,

I was just reading the news on CNN.com (great product placement) and I noticed that the U.S. Navy is sending my old ship to Haiti! Yes, that's right the USS Carl Vinson (cell block 70)! The only aircraft carrier in the whole entire fleet who has an identity crisis...it thinks it's a Minesweeper! That damned thing once went out for a 40 day qualifications mission and returned 9 months later! Just ask my friends (those who didn't jump ship and swam to another country that is...). I swear that our captain was none other than Captain Hector Barbosa (Pirates of the Caribbean movies...for all you non-Disney movie watchers).

There's nothing quite like waking up in the middle of the ocean amongst people who are as just as depressed and missing out on life as you are. The food was outstanding....not. The living accommodations were a little better than those of a Turkish prison inmate. Those were the days!

Anyway, the Vinson is on her way to the crisis zone. Usually, this means there will be no airwing onboard. They may have a helicopter squadron. The rest of the space (the hangerbay) will be for supplies for the area, which means that there will be no space for pretty much anything else.

While on the subject, I also read that the president of Haiti is homeless. Wow...at least he now knows how the rest of his country lives. It's kind of sad when the government of a country doesn't even have a legitimate emergency response team. I heard Anderson Cooper, from CNN, say that the police are not stopping to help the people. No one knows where are they going to. It really is total chaos.

It's amazing the way we jump at the opportunity to help out a nation that got leveled by an earthquake. It took all of 40 hours. My question is the following. Could someone tell me why it took our same government 5 days to respond to Hurricane Katrina! Has anyone thought the same?! It seems ridiculous to me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for helping out the Haitian Nation. I'm just upset at the fact that we jump out of our pants and help nations, who think we're Satan's righthand, in the blink of an eye and yet we drag our feet to help our own. It's nuts I tell you! Where the heck is our priorities?

I don't believe in Isolationist Ideas. I believe we should lead by example. I think we should help our neighbor. However, I don't see North Korea, Iran, or even Saudia Arabia jumping to the chance either. The United States is usually the one that even before one has time to digest the news of a disaster, we're there with our help and money.

I'm just tired of the way we shell out money like it's candy to nations, without any accountability, and yet we still have people living in sub-conditioned trailers in New Orleans! Why?! Why must we look so great to others when we have a problem, no one helps us. Double standards.

However, I'm glad that we're going in. At least we know things are going to get done. Hopefully, we'll be able to get more people out of the rubble alive. My heart and prayers go to those who perished in the face of this natural disaster.

Well, I'm calling this one done. Y'all be safe. Keep safe and dream big!