Friday Funnies (aka "No Idea What To Write")



It's Friday and I've never done a Friday Funnies-style post, and if not me, then womb?

 

All pictures are by me and "star" some of our boys, which is why I don't name them (they will be teenagers one day.. and don't need their friends to print these out :)

 

 

SuperHero Waiting For A Bus... "It'll be along soon."

Please don't Wait 2 Months to Submit...

...Your US Passport Pictures :)

 

I may be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but con-joined Strawberries are Awesome!



Trust but verify when you hear "I fixed the banana."

 

No Comment...

Now I can always say the Duvel made me do it :)

And, finally....



Papa, I'm ready for my Passport Picture..."

Have a great weekend, people - and don't forget to trip the swerver on the way out.

Memorial Day - Arlington Cemetery pictures...

I'm bringing the three boys to Arlington later today... but wanted to remind myself of the hallowed grounds that is our Nation's Cemetery.

 

Each of these headstones represents so much...

None of these pictures are mine, but they each speak a thousand words that should end with "...hug your veteran for all he/she is worth."

iwsg - Capital Letters Need Not Apply

It’s Insecure Writers' Support Group time!

 

 

As always, a huge thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, founder of IWSG and a jolly good chap to boot.

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Having finished A-Z, like so many others, I am trying to get back into the normal swing of things...

Actually, that's not true, because I was totally struggling to keep my blog going.

Now, with 26 posts written in the last month, I have, at least, lit a fire up my literary posterior and am feeling a lot "stronger."

Thus, my insecurity this month is a simple one: I don't want to slip back into pre-Challenge mode,

Yeah, April was tough, but it turned out to be a very worthwhile experience.

Thanks, then, to everyone who read up on my theme, the soon-to-be published memoir, REVIVAL, which I wrote for former professional opera singer, Donald Braswell.

Here's to the future that gives us hope - and screw the past that pulls us back.

"Z" is for No Time to "Zzz"

My theme revolves around the soon-to-be published memoir, REVIVAL, which I wrote for former professional opera singer, Donald Braswell.

 

…After making it past the audience and judges, Donald has several other, major adventures throughout Season 3 of America’s Got Talent. And, somehow, someway, he manages to battle through numerous cuts and disappointments to remain in serious contention.
(Read all about them in the book!)

"Z" is for "No Time to Zzz"
 

 

In Conclusion...

…By the time the two-part, Final Five show rolls around in September 2008, there’s so much going on inside my head. I’m worried it might pop on live TV. I never expected—surely I dreamt it, but I never thought these types of dreams could come true—to make the top fifty let alone the Top Five, but there I am standing onstage—again.

Before the show, I take a moment and let my barriers down a little. I think about the what ifs should I win the whole thing, I mean, I’ve a one-in-five chance now, which makes me smile, but I’m not there yet. I clamp down on the thoughts and close up the mental box. Then I lock it and put it in the back of my mind. I don’t want to jinx myself.

Apart from me, the finalists were:

·         Queen Emily, a spectacular singer who I thought had more of a general appeal to a larger audience.

·         Nuttin’ But Stringz, two brothers with amazing skills on the violin.

·         Eli Matson, a pianist and singer

·         Neal E. Boyd, an opera singer

 

It’s Neal who walks away as the overall winner. I place fourth, Eli is second, Nuttin' But Stringz comes in third and Queen Emily rounds out the Top 5.

When the lights come down for the last time, I let out a huge sigh of release. Yeah, I don’t have a million bucks burning a hole in my pocket, but what a huge accomplishment. Booed on a Dallas stage, kicked off the show in Las Vegas, recalled from San Antonio and here I am, standing proud at the end of the final show in Los Angeles. What a blessing that I had the chance to sing along the winding road that is America’s Got Talent.

I marvel at how many people stepped up to help me along the journey. My family, friends, colleagues and a whole bunch of people who offered up prayers to the Lord. I will be forever grateful to each and every one. There’s no way I could have done this alone.

I’ve already won so many times over. It not all about coming in first place, it’s about what I’ve personally achieved. I hadn’t merely recovered to where I could speak to my wife or sing in the shower again. I was singing to millions of viewers on national TV, and those millions of folks had endorsed me week after week by bringing me back time after time.

The whole AGT experience was a major accomplishment and I attribute one hundred-and-ten percent of that to God. He knew I wanted this opportunity in a bad way. I never expected he would have me glorify him through a reality show, but hey, whatever works to gain maximum exposure.

 

 For me, the reward is standing up as a positive image for those who struggle with various issues or inner demons. Paying homage to God after each performance allowed me to become a responsible voice to so many people who’ve gone through difficult times, and that reward was so much greater than a million dollars and a show in Las Vegas. God rewarded me in a different way. He does work in mysterious ways—and I couldn’t have asked for more...
 

Donald: Simply Enjoying Life - & his Second Chance to Sing

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Tomorrow: What? There’s no more letters??

Photo Credit:  Neva Barnhart