Monday, April 29, 2013

Come To Cuba


Everybody's doing it, dontcha' know...
Everybody's doing it, dontcha' know...
So I open up my Yahoo a few weeks ago and see a photo of her Highness and hubby yucking it up in Cuba.  I actually almost spit my hot cup of happiness a la Dunkins onto my laptop.  The photos looked as if they were doing a Cuba Tourism ad.  What’s wrong with that you might be thinking?  I mean we are talking about Beyonce and Jay-Z, everything they touch turns to gold.
They are good and upstanding people, a wife, a mother, pop stars, a clothing mogul, and they are besties with The Obama’s.  They should be able to go anywhere they want for their anniversary, right?
This is the message the mainstream media would like you to believe.  Honestly if I didn’t know better, I would begin to wonder if the screws in my noggin were coming lose.  Thankfully my parents raised me to use that thing in between my ears, and any American with even a half an ounce of intelligence no matter which way they lean politically knows what the problem with Cuba is.
Um, HELLO… there is this little thing called “The United States Embargo Against Cuba”.  Which has been in effect since October 1960, long before those two numbskulls were even thought of.  Honestly I don’t think they would know what to do with a brain if they had a place to put one.
Let’s see, you’re living your dream, worth a gazillion dollars (roughly $775 Million Dollars to be exact), have the ability to touch and influence so many people.  And what do you chose to do?  Visit a country that is run by a dictator where the people live in utter poverty.  So much so that they have risked their lives for decades trying to escape to America, crossing shark infested waters on barges for crying out loud! Just ask Marco Rubio, and these two think it’s a good idea to make it the destination for their Fifth Wedding Anniversary.  Anyone see the problem here?
Why is it that so many ultra wealthy entertainment celebrities think Socialism, Communism, and Marxism is so stinking cool?  Poor Sean Penn, he’s probably still in mourning over Hugo Chavez’s death.  The irony is these hypocrites seem to have no problem with Capitalism working to build their business or brand and be the catalyst that made them what they are today.  For anyone else though, that’s not acceptable.  We have to share the wealth.  Give me a break!
In all seriousness there are questions that need to be answered.  Who approved this trip?  Besides the Human Rights Violations, there’s a long list of why any American should and would know better NOT to travel to Cuba for a Vacation!
According to the U.S. Department of State: "Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. Regulation does not limit travel of U.S. citizens to Cuba per se, but it makes it illegal for U.S. citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba, under most circumstances. Since even paying unavoidable airfare ticket taxes into a Cuban airport would violate the transaction law, it is impossible for ordinary tourists to visit Cuba without breaking the monetary transaction rule.
The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related solely to tourist travel are not licensable."
So tell me because enquiring minds want to know… How exactly did his and her highness get to Cuba… Osmosis?  Never mind get a “license” to travel to Cuba for Tourist purposes?  That is unless they have become students or religious missionaries, or one of the other exceptions that Obama opened up in 2011.  Could it be perhaps that their new bestie had someone in the Department of State wave the “Magic Obama Pen” and make it happen?
They are very good at “preaching” fairness.  Everyone must be held accountable to the same standards, blah blah, yada, yada...  Question is, do they walk the walk or just talk the talk?
I for one have never been a fan of Beyonce, or Jay-z.  Not only because of this latest public display with an episode of “we can do whatever we want” but because I am morally opposed to the themes and messages in their music.  Especially her latest Pepsi commercial, which is chock full of Satanic themes, as well as witchcraft/the occult.
It does bring to light though the equally important issue people are faced with.  Pop Culture is a big machine run primarily by the ultra left.  The majority of mainstream Film, TV, and Music figures today love and adore Obama.  Even Kelly Clarkson succumbed to pressure from her twitter followers backing down from her original support for Ron Paul and ended up supporting Obama.  I find it sad when people are afraid to “think” for themselves and let others do it for them.
The fact is, a large portion of Americans are uninformed voters.  They pay more attention to Pop Culture than they do to politics.  What they don’t realize is these pop icons are contributing to the disintegration of society.  They see their favorite movie, TV, or music star, Matt Lauer on “The Today Show” and all the others drooling over Obama in the media, and think he must not be that bad, then end up thinking Anyone who doesn’t is a nut job.
What am I saying?  What I’m saying is, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.  Stop feeding the hand that bites you.  If you don’t like what you see happening in the country morally, socially and economically, then you can do something.  Stop buying products from these self-absorbed mind numb pop icons that support things that you oppose.  Start buying and supporting the work of people who are creating and promoting works via pop culture that do share your values.  Doing do will start to prop up those creating values based projects, and ultimately change the tide.
When people stop buying, listening to and watching the music, films, and TV shows starring those pop icons, then eventually their celebrity will dry up.  No one wants to hire a person who is not selling.  No it won’t happen overnight.  Why on earth would you want to buy products from people who are using their celebrity and fiancés to support things you are opposed to?  Just makes no sense.  It’s a giant machine with a lot of little working parts.  When little parts start to break down, eventually the entire machine will stop working and need to be fixed.
This is where we are today folks.  Our society is morally broken; the values being celebrated are in the toilet.  We have to make special rules and provisions for homosexuals and Muslims, yet at the same time we cannot say the word “God” or we will offend someone.  We had a half naked Beyonce dancing like a stripper on a pole flashing the illuminati sign at the Super bowl, and now we have His & Her Highness doing a publicity stunt practically doing a tourism ad for Cuba.  It’s time to Stop the insanity.
Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com 

Monday, April 22, 2013

Sick and Tired


The components of a muckery sandwich.
The components of a muckery sandwich.
I'm beginning to wonder if I have been cast in the sequel to the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.  Only this time the story focuses around a Greek Blonde girl who has been sick with Bronchitis and laryngitis for about a month that just goes on and on and on and on.  Can you guess what the title of this sequel is?.... "Bronchitis Muckery".
Seriously.  It all started when the yearly "Babysit Moms Dogs Episode" was coming to an end.  See my mom has to go away for training every year for her job with the Purple Heart.  So guess who watches her two fur kids?  Yup you guessed it....  Which was so much more fun this year since now instead of four of our own fur kids, we have five since we rescued little "Pepe" back in October.  Well as much fun as it was taking care of Seven, yes I did say SEVEN dogs for three weeks was... I was quite happy when my mom came to get her fur kids to take them home to her house.
That was until my mom and step dad walked in the house hacking their brains out.  So after a short trip out to eat they loaded up their fur kids and off they went.  The next morning... I woke up feeling a little off.  Wasn't really worried as mom said they had both taken a full week of antibiotics while she was away and they were "not contagious" anymore.  Yeah Right Mom!  Forward to the next day... I start to sound like a chain smoker and it all went downhill from there.
So here we are about a month later and not one but three trips to the Dr., three rounds of antibiotics, and after a chest x-ray to make sure I didn't have a pneumonia, now add to that steroids to help break up the muck in my chest, Nasonex nasal spray, Allegra, MucinexDM, and an inhaler... And I still feel like I have an iron lung.  Good grief!  The worst part is the Dr. even told me this time I have to hang up my sneakers until I'm better.  No more working out, too much stress on my body while it's trying to heal. ;( Total Muckery!
It was so bad that the other night while doing updates to social media I had a coughing fit while drinking Green Tea (I know you were expecting it to be Dunkins decaf) with my mac laptop on my lap.  At the same time the tinniest of the Aston fur kids "Itty Bitty" had a mini nervous breakdown when the Oreck Air machine made a zap noise from a piece of dust going into it.  Well during his little breakdown he jumped out of the covers up onto my lap knocking the tea where?  Onto my laptop of course.
Yeah it was pleasant.... So the following morning it was off to the Dr., pharmacy, then to Apple to replace the damaged parts.  Thank God it wasn't worse, I think it was saved by a new track pad and battery.  Time shall tell.
So after all this Muckery you could say Greek Girl is sick and tired of being sick!  I did get my voice back (not for singing yet) but the bronchitis lingers.  I'm am hopeful that this last round of medicine and being hunkered down with the humidifier almost 12 hours a day is going to get it out!  All's I'm sayin is July and 85 degrees can not come soon enough for me!
Moral of the story... keep the liquids away from the laptop.  Or better yet don't watch your moms fur kids ;D Either way, hope you have a smile and a beautiful day!
Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xo
www.avaaston.com

Monday, April 15, 2013

The Taxman Cometh


One for You and 19 for me... Kind of sounds like someone we know, dontcha think?
One for You and 19 for me... Kind of sounds like someone we know, dontcha think?
What?... I can't be the only one who waited until the very last minute to do my taxes.  I know this may be a surprise since I don't really seem like the kind of person to put things off until the eleventh hour.  Miss workout every day, eat healthy, super organized...  Well what can I say, Greek Girl needs to get an Accountant Minion.
A What?... you heard me, an Accountant Minion.  Before I can do that though I need to sell a lot more CD's and iTunes downloads.  Oh yeah and book some more acting jobs.  No wonder I wait until the last minute to do my taxes.  So many different things to enter in and they make it so stinking complicated.  Remember... Greek is another word for "Thrifty" :D So I do my taxes the way any thrifty Greek Girl would - do them myself with H&R Block Premium Business.
See it all started when we decided to start an LLC for entertainment stuff.  Well little did I know that would lead to a big fat Muckery Sandwich.  In order to even do your personal taxes you need to do the LLC first to get a Schedule K form, to use when you do your personal taxes.  So after all kinds of searching and phone calls I found that H&R Block's Premium & Business has the Schedule K form that I needed... one small problem.  They don't make the H&R Block program for Mac, it's only available for PC.  So what do I do?  Borrow my moms PC laptop of course :D Only thing is mom lives three hours away, Good thing I have a good mom!  she met us half way to let me borrow it!
Kinda makes you appreciate that song from the Beatles "Taxman".  Now don't shoot me but I've never really been much of a Beatles fan.  I mean there are a few songs I like, and "Taxman" is one of them.  A very clever song I have to say.  Really, think about it:
"Taxman"



(1, 2, 3, 4 Hrmm! 1, 2.. 1, 2, 3, 4)
Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
Cos I'm the taxman, 
yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet
Taxman!
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman
Don't ask me what I want it for (Aahh Mr. Wilson)
If you don't want to pay some more (Aahh Mr. Heath)
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me
Taxman!
So with all this work to get our taxes done "on time" and make sure we're all paying our "Fair Share"... Kinda makes you wonder huh?  Just think and this was written way back in the 1960's.  Imagine what the lyrics might be like if it were written today. ;D Hope everyone got the Taxman off their back for another year in time!
Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com

Monday, April 8, 2013

Cancelled


Good grief, No No No, This Show Wasn't Cancelled, Thank God!
Good grief, No No No, This Show Wasn't Cancelled, Thank God!
Dang it...  I woke up this morning to find out the breaking news that The Kathy Griffin Show was cancelled.  I can't figure out why in the heck Bravo would decide to cancel such a great example of what's not funny, vile, obnoxious, and just plain ugly behavior in a television show?
Seriously though in my humble Greek opinion this is a good thing.  Especially when Bravo has a whole lot of actual funny TV shows to compete with.  What do I consider good comedy on TV?  Hello AETV of course!
What can compete with Duck Dynasty and Storage Wars?  Now That is good TV, and not only is it funny, but it isn't highlighting a mean nasty person making fun of people and cursing the entire show.  (Hmmm maybe just a thought for your next show idea Bravo)  Between those two shows it's a wonder I can get anything done around my house.
What's not to love about Duck Dynasty?  You have a show about a family that built a business into a Million Dollar empire, a good old fashioned success story.  Like every family it's full of characters... mix in that they are a family of hillbilly characters trying to work together.... and you get a whole lotta funny.   Not only all of that but they embrace family values, and God.  Wow what a concept... anyone hear of that before.  I mean I know almost every other media outlet is busy banning the word to make sure we don't offend anyone... but Duck Dynasty not only stands up on their values and convictions and makes us laugh while they do it, they end every episode gathered around a meal as a family in prayer with their heads bowed.  We have a word for this in Greek.... Kudos! ;D Reminds me a little bit of a show from days gone by "The Walton's" if I'm not mistaken it was quite a successful show... just sayin.
Then there is my other guilty pleasure "Storage Wars".  What's so great about Storage Wars.... Well first off it doesn't have Kathy Griffin on it.  No seriously it's about getting a good deal on a storage locker that's possibly filled with treasures the cast can sell and make a profit on.  HELLO this is a perfect combination!  Remember I'm Greek which is another word for "thrifty" ;D  The show is just plain addicting.  You just never know what they are going to find in the lockers, and the cast is always wrapped up in the middle of some drama between each other.  From Barry's crazy getups and schemes and plots to distract the other buyers to Daryl's Sheets's constant "That's a $20, $30, $40 dollar bill right there" every time he picks up some odd ball item he's found in his locker.  I laugh so hard sometimes my stomach hurts.
So the moral of the story, what's the magic formula for a hit TV show?  Don't put Kathy Griffin or for the Love of God the Kardashian's in it.  Have a smile & a beautiful day!
Blessings,
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com

Monday, April 1, 2013

Change of Heart


Have you ever changed your mind?
Have you ever changed your mind?
Well maybe it has something to do with the fact that I came down with what feels like the bubonic plague two days before Easter and spent the better part of Easter Eve in the Walk In... I dunno, but whatever it is, I sure did wake up feeling different today.
Maybe it's the combination of the antibiotics, the inhaler, the Mucinex/Delsym for the chest congestion & couching, the Sudafed (to dry the fluid in my ears) the zinc lozenges, emergenC powder, the humidifier... all to treat the magic combination of Laryngitis and Bronchitis I have come down with.  All while being out of town visiting my mom for Easter (did I mention that part)?
So when I woke up I just had such a different take on things than I used to.  Normally I drink coffee all day long just about, and the day does not start until I have had a cup of Dunkins.  Not today... I wanted Green Tea.  Usually I watch Fox News, but today I started flipping through the channels and stopped on MSNBC, and you know what, I kind of liked it.  Now I know you guys might think I fell off my rocker when I tell you this but when I heard them talking about Obama and all the great things he is doing for our Country, I got to thinking... you know I don't think he's really that bad of a guy after all.
The next thing I usually do is workout, but today I just didn't feel like it.  You know what, I kind of liked it.  It felt great to not "have" to workout.  Then I went on my facebook page and I saw all the equals signs in my newsfeed, and it got me to thinking again... maybe they have a point.  Why can't gays get married?  I mean who are we to decide what God meant when he gave the Ten Commandments anyways?  I mean after all that was how many years ago?  Whose to say he hasn't changed his mind?
Then I decided I wanted to hear some music and so I went to iTunes wanting to try something different and downloaded a Beyonce CD.  You know what... it was flipping Awesome!  I don't know why I never cared for her before... I can't believe I used to say that when she sang she sounded like a dying dead screeching off key cat.  Then someone emailed me a video from this week's American Idol episode and I said what the heck, I'm going to click on it.  Now I'm hooked, I think that show is brilliant!  It's just too bad I'm too old and can't sing good enough to get on it.
After a while I felt like going outside for a bit of fresh air, and it occurred to me that Global Warming is so dangerous.  That Al Gore was so smart to alert us all to the horrors that are Global Warming and even the snow here in upstate NY is melting...  We really should do something about this, I mean make some more strict laws to protect the environment... Dontcha think?
By now if you have not figured out that Greek Girl is playing a Humungous April Fools joke on you, then I m sorry for scaring you. No worries people, your favorite Greek Girl next door is still a Bible loving, Gun Rights Supporting, Constitution defending three percenter.  So if you ever hear me talking like that then either I fell down and hit my noggin Real Hard... or I got kidnapped and brainwashed.  Either way, hope you have a happy April Fools day!  Now lets pray Old Man Winter has died for the last time this year!
Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xox
www.avaaston.com