Let the Confetti Fall!

I couldn't be any happier if I tried. Why? Well it all started on Saturday when Punxsutawney Phil gave me a belated Christmas gift with the prediction of an early spring. This had me jumping for joy because frankly last year winter hung around way too long. The Nor'ester that brought trees down all over our yard totaling one of our cars didn't really add any love to the season for me either.

Sunday started out doing my favorite thing in the world which is to sing, at a military event The four Chaplins WWII Memorial Service. It was also a milestone wedding anniversary with the love of my life and on this same day with a hot cup of magic a la Dunkins in my hand I got to watch Tom Brady and the Patriots deliver a fantastic gift to us and Pats fans everywhere by delivering another historic Super Bowl win! There was so much talk about him being too old, and people speculating if he still had what it took, or if he should retire, and on and on. As the confetti was falling down all around and the celebration began I couldn't help but think about my song "I Don't Even Care".  

It was written about stuffing your ears full of cotton balls when the naysayers of life tell you you're too this or too that to do something. When they say that something is impossible. First off they are forgetting what the word actually says, "I'm_Possible". 

Nothing is impossible to anyone period, end of story. It's all in your mind. If you think you can, you can and that is it. Well that is unless you're ninety nine years old and your dream is to be an Olympic skier, but even then who knows really? The power the mind has on the body is incredible. There really are no words to fully express it.

Anyway there are a lot of people with Tom Brady derangement syndrome out there and I think it is beyond silly. He is an athlete who has broken all kinds of records in the sport. There were so just many beautiful things about this Super Bowl anyone should be smiling watching it all unfold. Especially the twins from my little neck of the woods. First time ever twins played together in a Super Bowl. Twins Devin and Jason McCourty were born in Nyack, NY the area where I live in the beautiful historic Hudson Valley of NY.

People should celebrate others success and be happy when someone achieves a dream or a goal because if it happened to them it can happen to you. Anything is possible if you work hard and take the necessary steps to achieve your dream and goal. I listened to a pregame interview of Brady on Saturday night, and he was saying how he makes a daily choice to do the work necessary to do his job. There was a lot more to it, but it was really poignant. Many people today want things overnight, and feel entitled to have them without doing the things required to get them. Here is a guy who has worked practically every day of his life on one thing, and he is the best at it not only because of his talent, but because of his effort. He works hard, stays out of trouble, and has a beautiful wife and family. I think it is a great example and inspiration to people everywhere.

His interview actually reminded me of a great quote from President Ronald Reagan. It was made while he was Governor of California.

"Attitude, not aptitude, controls altitude. Along with a positive attitude, we must have a positive plan." 

Very true. Even more so the more you think about it. Another thing that made the Super Bowl so special this year was the National Anthem. I mean HELLO! Gladys Knight knocked it OUT OF THE PARK! Quite possibly the BEST National Anthem ever in my opinion (and to think she didn't need to write the lyrics on her hands and she was fully clothed)wow - what a concept. I will use my inside voice to describe what I thought about the half time show because my mom taught me if you don't have anything nice to say, sometimes it is best to not say anything at all.

Onto the third and final item in the what made it a Super Trifecta weekend for this greek girl. Well, it is not really the weekend still because it happens on Tuesday. However, Tuesday is the Super Bowl parade in Boston and the grand finale that same evening... if you guessed the State of the Union you are correct!

I have my popcorn ready (organic of course) and I'm all set to watch the President address the nation. I could go on about another major case of derangement syndrome some people have but I won't. I will however say that there are far too many people who show no respect for the office. Even when there have been people in that office I did not agree with in any way, shape, matter, or form, I showed respect for the office. The level of discourse out there is frightening. Where is the common decency? People should be able to disagree and not hate each other as people. Good grief Charlie Brown.

Anyway it's a happy day for me. So go download my song, tell the naysayers where they can go, and go out and make it a happy day!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Break The Internet

OK we get it... you want everyone in the entire world to see you naked. Duly noted.

Now that some of the dust has settled and almost everyone in the universe has seen Kim Kardashian naked yet again I thought it would be a good time to add my two Greek cents to the controversy. Anyone who has been reading my blog for any amount of time just had to know I would have something to say about this muckery.

First to the people who say Kim Kardashian has absolutely no talent whatsoever and that she is famous for "not being talented", I beg to differ. Mrs. West is extremely talented in keeping her mug or in this case her naked body in the public eye. Thus further driving her fame and income. So to that I have to say she does have a talent, she is a talented business woman.

What I don't understand is why is she and so many others like her today are so fixated on people seeing their naked bodies? Really I just don't get it. I mean private parts, big deal, we all have them. Why on earth are people so obsessed with the entire world seeing them naked anymore? Is nothing sacred?

For that matter why don't we all just run around naked? Everyone from babies to grandpas. It would be a whole lot cheaper not to have to buy clothes and shoes. Heck why not break all the rules and just do everything in public. Like maybe have sex with whatever or whomever we want any time we want. How about just making it the "norm" to go to the bathroom in public while were at it too?

Seriously leads me to wonder where is the line. Why does it keep moving so far, where will it stop, if it stops at all? Makes me very sad for the generation coming up today. My little niece and nephews are growing up in a generation that isn't striving to become Dr.'s, Lawyers, Scientists, Astronauts, to cure Cancer or Ebola... but instead are striving to get the perfect "selfie" and to be "famous". To really make something of their lives, you know by making it into American Idol, Dancing With The Stars or the ultimate sign you have really made it in today's society, to get your own Reality TV show.

Makes me wish Kim Kardashian or someone would actually just break the internet once and for all. That it would be broken so I couldn't even write this blog. No Facebook, no Instagram, no Google. Maybe then people would stop trying to "capture" the perfect moment and start living their moments. Actually get their heads out of their devices and talk to each other again. Or shall I say "learn how" to talk to each other.

Has anyone besides me noticed that the more "connected" we become as a society the less we are communicating? It is happening everywhere you turn, from the workplace to shopping, even eating out. People seem more and more to have a difficult time making eye contact, and they appear to be so wrapped up in their own noggins that they are not even actively participating in what they are doing. Whether it's taking your order at Panera, the person ringing you up at the store, even at places you would think they would be paying attention, like your doctors office. I could sit here and relate over a dozen episodes from just the last two weeks that would make you wonder if someone from the invasion of the body snatchers hadn't kidnapped some peoples brains. Never in my lifetime have I seen people so disengaged in their present activity.

I'm guessing you have seen and experienced similar situations in your own life. Now I know "Change" is supposed to be good and sometimes it is.  Not all change though actually is good. Better, faster, sooner, NOW... The "Now Generation". We're moving so stinking fast that we don't even have time to experience the present moment. For crying out loud this year stores have even moved "Black Friday" up by rolling out the deals two weeks before Thanksgiving. Some stores are going to be open all day on Thanksgiving and I just heard that Kmart will be open for 48 hrs straight... What the heck in the world? How can anyone "Give Thanks" if we are focused on getting to the next deal?

Slow down. Speaking of slowing down, so I'm sitting on the couch Friday night with my husband minding my own business. It's about 6:30pm EST and were eating dinner. I look up to see a commercial for a new cable show. Before I even realize what it is for, smack dab on my TV is a threesome, you read right, a threesome. Two girls and a guy were sitting in a bathtub naked on my TV screen at 6:30pm on a Friday night. I almost dumped my dunkins on my lap. Now if you think your squeaky clean Greek Girl next door was shocked to see that image, just imagine what the little kids who were innocently watching TV at the time must have been thinking. Especially those who do not have solid loving parents to guide them.

Which leads me to a very important question. How is it that the FCC can fine someone for saying the "F" word on TV or the radio, but think it perfectly acceptable to advertise a "Me'nage a' Trois" on cable television at 6:30PM. For that matter why would a network put a show centered around a newly divorced woman with children and her sex life on TV? I mean really... who cares? The writers in Hollyweird really can not come up with anything more interesting to do a new show about? Bueller, hello calling Ferris Bueller.

Personally I would love to see people like Kim Kardashian using their "celebrity" status to sprinkle more positive into the world. Can you imagine if people like her used their finances and influence to set a positive example for kids growing up today? Just let your mind wander on that for a minute. I'm not saying everyone should dress like a church nun and retreat from the world going back into the 1950's.

Imagine how much impact could be made in peoples lives if celebrities actually paid attention to the fact that people are watching them, and they are influencing future generations whether they want to or not. We the people have a choice. Personally I'm  speaking as a Christian who is bothered by what I see in society today. This isn't just for Christians though, this question is to everyone. We have a choice. We can either retreat from the world and pop culture, or we can dig our heels in and decide we are going to impact it in a positive way. Whether that impact is something as simple as buying or not buying or watching things that don't fall in line with your values. Or using your gifts and talents to positively impact the world through business, art, music, and culture. Because if we don't do it, someone else will... Ask yourself honestly, do you like what you see?

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com