10 Signs That Spring Is Right Around The Corner

Forget the fact that we are hunkering down for yet another snowstorm tomorrow in New York, there are still many signs that old man winter is just about ready to start hibernating with the bears... or least we hope he is.

From the far deep crevasses of my Greek noggin here are the top-10 signs that spring is just around the corner:

1. Husbands are trying to figure out what shenanigans they can do to get that shiny new riding lawn mower at Home Depot without getting served divorce papers.
2. All winter long I thought my four doggies were holding it...but now with all the snow melted I can see just how wrong I was.
3. Major league baseball players are at spring training and placing their metabolic steroid orders with their favorite drug dealers.
4. Snooki is limiting her dinner to only two plates of pasta in anticipation of swimsuit season at the Jersey Shore.
5. Mr. Bricks will pack his beer bong and speedo and head to The Villages in Florida for Spring Break with the senior citizens. Muckery ensues.
6. I'm packing away my Uggs for storage and swapping them out with my sneakers. (This winter was so brutal I hope to never see those Uggs again)
7. The neighbors are finally starting to take down their Christmas lights.
8. Middle-aged white men who haven't picked up a basketball in 30 years but have spent the last two weeks watching March Madness on TV suddenly feel compelled to challenge their friends to a game of 3-0n-3, Yes, middle-aged white men can't jump.
9. NyQuil and other allergy medications becomes a staple on everyone's shopping list.
10. Wal-Mart has just put out the Christmas decorations on their store shelves.

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Better A Broken Promise Than None At All

Thanks for nothing Mr. Twain!

What was Mark Twain thinking when he made the quote, "Better A broken promise than none at all"? Did he know that the world is full of some people who have no problems not keeping their promises? I'm talking about situations where someone has specifically agreed to do something and then totally flakes out at the last-minute without any sort of excuse, explanation or note from their mother or doctor explaining their absence.  Some people seem to think that it is OK not to keep a promise and that not keeping a promise is "no biggie."  News flash - it is a "biggie." It's a huge deal to the other person or people who were counting on you, especially if that person was a child!

I don't want anyone to read into my ranting here. I had a great childhood and there is no person who is the specific target of my rant...this time! I am just an equal opportunity Greek ranter and today I chose to rant about people who make promises only to break them later.

We all know people who have had someone break a promise and not live up to what they said they would do. It sucks, doesn't it? You are blindsided when it happens. You think good of all mankind and do not foresee the broken promises coming. I know for me, since I'm Greek I like to talk and when a person breaks a big promise with me it leaves me speechless without anything to say. Me speechless? Well you then know it was a big deal to me.  I am sure a broken promise is a big deal to anyone who is the unfortunate recipient of it!

So what does a person have if they do not have the word or the honor of another person? I say they have nothing. No one will trust them, no one will respect them and most certainly no one will want to be associated with them. When I make a promise to someone -- it's as good as being written in stone!! I know I will try my darndest to live up to any promise I make. That's just the way I was raised.

Likewise, if you make a promise to me and then you find out you're not going to be able to live up to that promise - then come tell me. I'm a big girl, I've got my big Greek girl underpants on. I can handle it, really I can. In life stuff happens to everyone and I understand that. But don't try to pretend you never made a promise or worse yet, totally ignore me or the person you made a promise to. Human noggins are like an elephants noggin...only slightly larger and less wrinkly and they also never really forget. They might forgive, but some people never forget.

Just to break a promise for no good reason is uncalled for. Especially in situations where someone was really depending on others and now there is no other way for them to get something done. I guess some people do not have a conscience or a sense of responsibility anymore.

Here are a couple of good quotes on promises:

• Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

• A promise made is a debt unpaid.  ~Robert Service

• We must not promise what we ought not, lest we be called on to perform what we cannot.  ~Abraham Lincoln

• A promise is a comfort for a fool.  ~Proverb

• Promises may fit the friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.  ~Benjamin Franklin

I am not saying all people break promises. But for the ones who do, shame on you. You promise breakers sure let down the rest of humanity.

Blessings,

Ava

xox

The Magic of Three's

There is something magical about the number 3.

• There are 3 strikes in baseball and the number of outs per side each inning
• 3 Musketeers is Mr. Bricks' favorite candy bar
• When bowling 3 strikes in a row it is called a Turkey
• Several cities are known as Tripoli which is a Greek word which means "3 Cities"
• There were 3 Amigos
• 3 was the number Babe Ruth wore on his jersey
• Mr. Bricks also likes Babe Ruth Candy bars
• There are 3 main religions in the world - Christianity, Judaism and Islam
• There are Three Wise Men in the Bible
• A triathlon consists of three events: swimming, bicycling, and ends in running.
• There was a 70's rock band called Three Dog Night, not Four Dog Night (just sayin')
• My first iPhone was 3G
• There are three films or novels in a trilogy
• A Basketball shot made from behind the 3-point arc is worth 3 points. Duh, Winner
• I once was 3-years old
• Musically speaking, there are three notes in a triad, the basic form of any chord
• There were Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and Three Bears, and Three Blind Mice

When I started writing this blog I asked around for advice. I was told over and over again that I should always try to use three examples in each blog to make a point. I was told that it helps the reader see the picture I am trying to paint with my words.

I also remember once reading a book on marketing that said when there is the juxtaposition of a series of three events happening in a short period of time that it has a special magical effect on the intended target audience.

So I also try to use the concept of the magic of three's when it comes to pushing my own career. I have come to realize that in everything I do for my career things just seems to work better when I have three events happening in a very short period of time. It's like before the hype of the first event can die down then along comes the second event, which props up people's attention for the first one which might have started to wane. Then before the attention of either the first or second event can be totally forgotten from people's noggin, here comes the Greek girl once again popping up in the media for the third time in a short period of time. I guess you can run, but you can't hide from this blond girl.

Now if I can just get my manager Mr. Bricks to get me these three things:

1. A record deal
2. TV series (comedy series of course)
3. A book deal

Blessings,

Ava

xox

How to Make a Dog "Gone" Music Video

The next couple of days my blog will be limited because I am in the middle of shooting my newest music video for my song "Gone."  Although, my new video has nothing to do with dogs, I am such a huge dog lover that I thought it would be fun to explain how to make a music video by using dog pictures.

There is a lot that goes into the making of a music video that most people don't think about.

The first decision that needs to be made is what type of video to make. Do you want to just stand on stage and film it? Or do you want to make a concept video that tells some sort of story?

A storyboard or treatment of the video is written.

Don't Laugh, It's hard to type with these big paws!

A production meeting is held with all of the important people.

If the weather is nice, why not have the production meeting outside?

After the production meeting it is time to start casting.

Don't worry, the casting couch is an old myth? Or is it?

Then it will be time for rehearsal. Practice, practice, practice.

Rehearsal sucks, but they always have a bunch of snacks! Yummo.

Ok, once everyone knows their parts it's time to start filming.

"And... Action!"

I hope you will be ready for your close up!

"Oh Mr. DeMille...."

When filming is done it will be time to edit.

Cutting out all the bad stuff in the editing room!

Finally, it will be time for the world premiere!

Oh, Pawparazzi - No Paw-ta-Graphs, please!

So that is how you make a music video!

Make sure you stay tuned  for the April 28,2011 world premiere of my new "Gone" music video

Blessings,

Ava

xox

OMG! The Dictionary Is Changing

OMG? LOL? TTYL? PMP?  That's all Greek to me!!

Editors who publish the Oxford English Dictionary have added some common texting abbreviations to their newest updated publication.  Now, you can find the three letter abbreviations  OMG, LOL and BFF in their Dictionary.  If you need me to tell you what they stand for, well I suggest you put down the mouse, step away from the keyboard and wait for the nurses to come give your next round of medication.

It's nice that our friends across the pond are keeping up with the times but I really do not think they went far enough. They left out some of my very favorite texting abbreviations. So as the newly appointed Blond Greek Dictionary Czar I am recommending that everyone feel free to start using the following abbreviations as words in your day-to-day conversations and/or texts with your BBF's, family, co-workers, priest, the cat lady next door, enemies, Sales clerk at the Piggly Wiggly, favorite Aunt, parole officer, talent agent, secret agent, weird Uncle, former prison cell mate, lethargic DMV employees, bookie, blogging pals, the rude man on the subway who smells like urine or with your favorite talent manager.

BAC - Bad Assed Chick

BAGG - Bad Assed Greek Girl

BYOB - Boy You're Old Bricks

DIHARDYMB - Do I Have A Record Deal Yet Mr. Bricks?

DGYPIAW - Don't Get your Panties (or Pantaloons) In a Wad

DLTBBB - Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

IBK - Idiot Behind Keyboard

IBTD - I Beg To Differ

IMGN - In My Greek Noggin

PMFJI - Pardon Me For Jumping In

PMIGBOM - Put Mind In Gear, Before Opening Mouth

PMP - Peeing My Pants

PNCAH - Please, No Cursing Allowed Here

POS - Piece of Sh**

POTUS - President of the United States

POSPOTUS -

PPL - People

PTMM - Please Tell Me More

R U THERE? - Are you there?

RL - Real Life

ROFL - Rolling On Floor Laughing

ROFLAS - Rolling On Floor Laughing And Screaming

ROFLMAO - Roll On Floor Laughing My Ass Off

ROTFLMAOTID - Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off Till I Die

ROTFLOL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud

ROTFLOLAPMP - Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud And Peeing My Pants

ROTFLTIC - Rolling On The Floor Laughing Till I Cry

ROTFAGD - Rolling on The Floor And Getting Dirty

ROTFFNAR - Rolling on The Floor For No Apparent Reason

ROTFBIADACSU - Rolling on The Floor Because I'm Drunk And Can't Stand Up

ROTFBICTOABS - Rolling On The Floor Because I Can't Think of A Blog Subject

RTWFQI - Read The Whole Freakin' Question Idiot

S - Smile

SCNR - Sorry, Could Not Resist

SETE - Smiling Ear To Ear

SICSAY - Sitting In Chair Snickering At You

SNAFU - Situation Normal: All Fouled Up

SOB - Stressed Out Bigtime

SOL - Sneakers Or Lunch?

SOS - Same Old Sneakers

SUL - Snooze You Loose

SWIM - See What I Mean?

SWL - Screaming With Laughter

SYS - See You Soon

TAF - That's All, Folks!

TAFN - That's All For Now

TAKS - That's a knee slapper

TARFU - Things Are Really Fouled Up

TIA - Thanks In Advance

TIC - Tongue In Cheek

TINWISMB- That Is Not What I Said Mr. Bricks

TNSTAAFLMB - There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch Mr. Bricks

TNTL - Trying Not To Laugh

TNXE6 - Thanks A Million

TOBAL - There Oughta Be A Law

TOBG - This Oughta Be Good

TOY - Thinking Of You

TPTB - The Powers That Be

TRDMC - Tears Running Down My Cheeks

TS - Totally Stinks

TTBOMK - To The Best Of My Knowledge

TTFN - Ta Ta For Now

TTKSF - Trying To Keep a Straight Face

TTTT - To Tell The Truth

TTYL - Talk To You Later

TTYT - Talk To You Tomorrow

TYVM - Thank You Very Much

UOK - Are You OK?

WAEFCDC- When All Else Fails Drink Coffee

WAG - Wild Assed Guess

WB - Welcome Back

WDALYICMB - Who died and left you in charge Mr. Bricks?

WDYMBT - What Do You Mean By That?

WDYT - What Do You Think?

WE - Whatever

WIBAMU - Well, I'll Be A Monkey's Uncle

WMMOWS - Wash My Mouth Out With Soap

WOA - Work Of Art

WOTAM - Waste Of Time And Money

WT - Without Thinking

WTB - Want To Buy

WTBS - Want To Buy Sneakers

WTF - Where's The Fun?

WTG - Way To Go!

WTH - What the hell?

WTTM - Without Thinking Too Much.

XOXOXO - Kisses and hugs

YGTI - You Get The Idea?

YGTBK - You've Got To Be Kidding

YGWYPF - You Get What You Pay For

YIU - Yes, I Understand

YKYARW - You Know You're A Redneck When

YKWIM - You know what I mean

Blessings,

AVA

xox

Hail to the Chief

I am still laughing about how Mr. Bricks looks in this one! Maybe this isn't the most politically correct cartoon, but its all in good fun. I hope you enjoy your Saturday!

Blessings,

Ava
xox

You can still get my "Gone" CD during my March Madness special.

So...

The Greek girl has a pet peeve she needs to get off of her chest.

If  you are a fan of my music, or a regular reader of my blog, you already know I don't claim to be a domestic goddess.  It's not that I am untidy and a hoarder or that it takes me an hour to cook minute rice, because none of that is true. It's just that I have concentrated on my acting and singing career instead of my cooking, cleaning and sewing career.

I know by labeling today's blog "So..." and posting a header picture with some girl sewing in it is very misleading. But I did that just to confuse you and to make you think for just a nanosecond that I had a screw loose rattling around in my little Greek coconut.  But that's not the case (no matter what Mr. Bricks may think!) The reality is, I want to talk about one of my biggest pet peeves. It is when you are talking to another person and they don't finish their sentences because they are unsure what answer they will hear if they complete the sentence. They cop-out by not finishing their sentence and trailing off with the proverbial "So..." at the end of their incomplete sentence or thought. Let me give you some examples with my manager Mr. Bricks who is the biggest offender of the "Just say So" muckery:

Me: Well Mr. Bricks do you have a record deal for me yet?

Mr. Bricks: Not yet Ava. I'm working on contacting different labels and publishing companies and I haven't heard anything back yet, so...

OR

Me: What did you have for lunch today Mr. Bricks?

Mr. Bricks: I went to McDonald's and had a McRib.

Me: I could have told you that. That food is so unhealthy.

Mr. Bricks: Yes Ava. But I had a lot of meetings and I didn't have time for anything else, so...

OR

Me: I think I am going to go run 5 miles.

Mr. Bricks: You go Greek girl.

Me: Why don't you join me?

Mr. Bricks: Oh, I don't know Ava.

Me: It would do you some good because you will feel better and might lose some weight.

Mr. Bricks: You run fast and I don't want to slow you down, so...

See how frustrating that is? Just finish your sentences people and you won't get this blond Greek girl all worked up!!!

Blessings,

Ava

xox