Lots of stuff happening...

Well, we're down to Mom and Aunt Sandra's last two days in California.  I'm taking Friday off to spend the day with them before they leave early on Saturday morning.  I have thoroughly enjoyed having them here, but I know they are ready to get back to North Carolina and see everyone there.  My cousin, Jeff, had a baby in December.  He's my Aunt Sandra's youngest child and this is his first baby, so she's dying to go home and get her "Grandma" on.  The baby's name is Camryn and she is gorgeous.

Baby Camryn Born 12/22/09

6 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 inches

Filming begins Saturday for my new web project.  I hope to have it edited and posted to YouTube by February 1st.  Watch this space for more info.  I've been recording music for it over the last week and the MP3's have been turning out fairly well.

Work has been busy the past two days with a huge project that is going live at the end of this month.  My real estate biz is moving right along as well.  Not a lot happening there, but I have changed brokers over the last month.  My new broker is Mark Henry at American Realty and Mortgage Corp in El Dorado Hills.  I'm also now able to off mortgage services as well as act as a realtor.  We offer both commercial and residential real estate services and I've also become a member of the national and local chapters of the Association of Realtors.

My friends, Dinesh and Karen Gonsalkorale, are coming to Sacramento on January 18th and I'm very excited to see them.  I will only get to see them during one evening, but I had hoped to follow them to Las Vegas that weekend.  Unfortunately, I just don't have the time or the money to do so right now.  So, I'll just have to enjoy my time with them while they're in town.

I've been following the federal challenge to prop 8 in the news.  It begins on January 11th and the judge in the case has said he will allow cameras in the courtroom and the video will be uploaded to YouTube.  I will probably be spending a lot of time viewing those files to see how that case is progressing.  It's going to be an interesting few weeks.  I found a great blog that posts up to date information about the case.  Check it out at http://prop8legalcommentary.blogspot.com/search/label/Perry%20et%20al%20v.%20Schwarzenegger%20et%20al. 

Hope your day is blessed!

Ray

Happy New Year!

Yes, it is 2010...how the hell did I live to be this old?  I'll never know!  HA!  So, this is the year we're supposed to make contact according to the Kubrick film.  I just hope it's a year I'll survive as I will turn 50 in November!  CRAP!

On a serious note, I had an incredible holiday this year.  Christmas and New Year's were extra special having my family with me.  It wasn't an overly commercialized year of buying extravagant gifts, but it was one filled a lot of love and laughter.  Just as they all should be.

So, here's my plans for 2010:

• Continue paying down debt and move into a "cash only" existence.  I'm tired of being in debt.  I no longer carry credit cards and will work to pay cash for any purchase that we make.  Part of this endeavor will be to build my real estate business and look for new promotional opportunities in my day job.
• Pray and meditate on a daily basis to continue my spiritual growth.  2009 was an intense year for me in that arena.
• Find a creative outlet to fit into my hectic schedule.  More to come on this in the next couple of weeks.  Filming begins this weekend on my new project.  The music was recorded over the holidays for the first 5 webisodes.
• Re-connect with friends and family.  I need to find more time to be social as I have lost touch with many friends since I gave up theater.  This is also due in part to the fact that many of my friends are constantly in rehearsals, so it's hard to mesh up with their schedule as well.  And honestly, I have accepted invites to parties and the like over the last year, but I tend to flake because I have so much on my plate and things pop up last minute.  So, if you're among those people I have flaked on, forgive me as I will try and be better about that in 2010.
• Finally but most importantly...I need to spend more time with my husband.  One of the reasons I gave up theater was because I wanted to put focus on my career and my relationship.  Now that James is working full time and working mostly nights and weekends, it is hard for us to find quality time. 

These are not necessarily resolutions for the New Year...but more like guidelines that have already been in place for some time.  I am just reminding myself of the path I put myself on and I need to stick to the plan to re-focus those efforts for the next year.

More info is forthcoming on my webseries in the next few weeks.  This is a joint writing effort between me and Anne-Marie Trout.  Hoping it will turn out well!  Stay tuned!

Much love to you all!

Ray