Oscar Bound

Day 110: "Mercy"

We had a great day out in NYC yesterday...combining business with pleasure.

After my morning meeting, we had a fun reunion lunch with my kids' first nanny at Ellen's Stardust Diner in Times Square. The diner is a famous breeding ground for up and coming Broadway talent and the wait-staff doubles as the entertainment.

Our waitress kicked things off with a rousing version of Duffy's hit song, "Mercy".

Everyone was amazingly talented....which helped buffer the price-tag (slightly). 

"You've got me begging you for mercy....why won't you release me."

Day 109: "Just To Satisfy You"

Over the weekend, I watched Larry King's recent interview with Willie Nelson and found it really interesting. I've always respected Willie's talent and his efforts to help farmers in our country (coming from a farming family myself, lol), but honestly didn't know much about him. I found him intelligent, warm and funny (he is apparently known for telling off-color jokes!)...and at almost 77 years old, was amazed to find out that he still tours most of the year (pretty much living full-time on his tour bus).

I especially loved hearing him talk about The Highwaymen, the group he formed with Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings during the mid-80's. 

Here's one of my favorite Waylon and Willie songs..."Just To Satisfy You". The song was originally released as a solo by Waylon in 1969, and hit number one for the duo in 1982.

"Someone's going to get hurt before you're through."

Day 108: "Don't Say You Don't Remember"

While searching for yesterday's song on YouTube, I ran across this little gem I'd forgotten....Beverly Bremer's 1972 hit,  "Don't Say You Don't Remember".  Wow...I REALLY haven't heard that one in years, but DO remember :)

"If you say you don't remember, how can I go on living with myself."

Day 107: "Come Saturday Morning"

Woke up this morning and the song "Come Saturday Morning" by The Sandpipers just popped into my head...and, since it IS Saturday morning, I guess I'm supposed to post it, LOL.

Trivia:

The song debuted on the soundtrack of the 1969 film, The Sterile Cuckoo, starring Liza Minnelli, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as was Minnelli for her role as Pookie. The Sandpiper's recording reached #17 on the 1970 Billboard Charts.

"But we will remember...long after Saturday's gone."

Day 106: "Crocodile Rock"

Just saw Sir Elton John on Oprah and realized I haven't posted one of his songs yet!  Here's an "oldie but a goodie", as they say:  "Crocodile Rock". 

The song, released in 1972, became Elton's first U.S. number-one single, and "was inspired by his discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single "Eagle Rock" , which was the most successful Australian single of the early 1970s remaining at #1 for a (then) record 10 weeks.John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it." Interesting :)

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 105: "For Your Entertainment"

A very good friend of our family is celebrating a significant birthday today and since  she's a HUGE Adam Lambert fan, I'm dedicating his first hit single, "For Your Entertainment" for HER entertainment :)

Happy Birthday, Janis!! Thanks for all you do to make our lives work so smoothly!

And, what the heck, here are The Chipmunks singing their version of Happy Birthday to You, LOL

Day 104: "Beauty in the World"

I'm so happy to hear this great new music from Macy Gray! Check out the video for "Beauty in the World"...it should start your day off on a great note! 

Pick your diamond, pick your pearl...there is beauty in the world.

Great lyric :)

Day 103: "Tell Him No"

While getting ready for a meeting yesterday morning, I was listening to the 50's station on Sirius/XM, and heard "Tell Him No" by Travis and Bob for the first time. It was a one-hit wonder for the duo back in 1959...AND, was also the only hit for the Sandy Record Company. I think it's kind of catchy!

Have a "rockabilly" day!

Day 102: "Mission of My Soul"

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what I really want to be doing with my life, so when I heard the song "Mission of My Soul" by Peter Himmelman on Pandora last night, it caught my attention :) 

So, you may be wondering (or not, lol)...what has been the result of all of this soul searching? WELL....I'm still very passionate about the many things I'm doing career-wise (documentary filmmaking, screenwriting, launching my new internet podcast and producing various other ventures), so don't see that changing much in the near future. However, what most people don't know about me is that aside from my desire to be creative  and work with interesting people (which all of this allows me to do), my main goal for my life has been to end up as a philanthropist.  What I'd really love to do is spend my days giving out the fortune I hope to make (a la Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Oprah....ok, maybe not on that scale, but you get my drift). 

I have some great ideas for a foundation, but was always in the, "I'll do that after I ___" mode. What I've realized is that I don't have to wait for the day when I make my own fortune (duh)...I can start the foundation NOW on a small basis and grow it....just like I've done with every other venture/project I've started....one step at a time :) 

Step One:  Put together a formal written plan.

Step Two:  Recruit board members

Step Three: Just DO it :)

I feel better already!

P.S. You will note in the YouTube performance of the song, that David Hollander is playing the piano. Hollander was the Executive Producer and writer of the TV show, "The Guardian", starring Simon Baker.

Day 101: "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher"