When your husband begins a sentence with, "You're not going to like this, but sit down, we need to talk, I have something to tell you," is never a good sign.
In fact, my initial response is to turn and run.
When Earnest said this yesterday, I did my best to stay composed and asked, "What did you do now Earnest?"
At this point I have to cut and go back to the past and remember his vows to me at our wedding ceremony some thirteen years ago.
He promised me many things that day but he made a point to say that my life would never be boring. At the time I thought it odd, but was caught up in the moment. Now, I clearly see what he meant.
I have to go on record that my husband is probably the most unique individual I have ever met. He at times amazes me with his genius mind and there are times he leaves me baffled. He goes from being super serious one moment, spewing out great wisdom, to saying the silliest things, from out-of-nowhere! (I must admit that I cannot keep up with him.)
Sometimes he will just blurt something out that has nothing to do with what is happening at the moment. He's just responding to something we spoke about earlier like remembering a person's name.
To say that I would never be bored is such an understatement!
I never know from one day to the next what will come out of his mouth or what zany idea he has cooking up in his mind.
All I know is that whatever he is up to it will involve me having to do something that leaves me scratching my head or me giving him that blank stare and wondering, "Have you lost your mind?"
In the end, it always turns out for the best, but not until we have gone on some type of adventure be it emotional, mental, spiritual or even physical. I never know.
I'm starting to wonder if he is even human.
He even has energy like no one I have ever met. He can work from 6 a.m. until 12:00 midnight every day (including weekends) and wake up all happy and ready to go at it again. He sings, dances and even thinks he can dance like Beyonce and does a great impression of 'All the Single Ladies'.
How he does it, just blows my mind. I get up at the same time, but by 9:30 p.m. I'm nodding off. Heck, I sometimes have my pajamas on by 6:00 p.m. and he looks at me like I'm boo boo the fool!
So what was it that he had to tell me that I was not going to like? Well, stay tuned. I will know more on Monday of this upcoming week. Let's just say, get ready folks, this will go down as one of the craziest things that Earnest and I have ever done.
I just hope that I live to tell the story.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Social Networking/Media
I'm all for social networking and we have met some wonderful people through our blogs and on Twitter and FaceBook.
But, I have to draw the line somewhere. Recently I informed my husband that dinner was almost ready. I was exactly ten steps away from him standing in the kitchen when I called out to him. He was busy on the computer working in our home office.
His response to me, "Tweet me when it's done!"
But, I have to draw the line somewhere. Recently I informed my husband that dinner was almost ready. I was exactly ten steps away from him standing in the kitchen when I called out to him. He was busy on the computer working in our home office.
His response to me, "Tweet me when it's done!"
Monday, April 6, 2009
No Obstacles, Just Opportunities
I had the nicest compliment the other day from out-of-the-blue. At least it seemed like one. And yet it was a real lesson for me too.
One of my co-workers came up to me and asked very seriously, "How do you do it Dianna?"
At first I was a little thrown off by the question.
"Do what?", I asked.
"What you do", she replied. "You know, whenever someone comes up to you with a problem, you listen to them, and no matter how big or impossible it seems to everyone else, you smile and then you're off and within minutes, you come back with a solution!"
At this point I cracked up.
She looked at me and said, "Seriously Dianna! There are no obstacles for you!"
I laughed so hard I thought I would pee in my pants! But, my co-worker was really being sincere. (So I composed myself immediately) and had to ask, "What are you talking about?"
She then went on to tell me, "I watch you and you make everything look so easy and what is so strange is that here you are this very small woman. You look like a little girl from a distance and I see you talking to people so serious and you make them laugh and I see them nodding their heads in agreement with you and then you come back all happy. Next thing I know. Problem solved!"
"Wow!", I told her, "you give me way too much credit."
She was silent for a moment and then said somewhat sadly, "I would never be able to go ask for help or even think to tell someone that I have a problem."
"Really?", I asked her.
"Dianna, not everyone can do what you do!" she said a little irritated with me.
I apologized and told her that I too have problems and face great obstacles every day. The way I go about solving challenges may be different, but that I'm not special by any means. But, what I have learned is that 'no' sometimes means - find another way.
Sometimes obstacles are really opportunities. And the most important lesson I have learned is that I don't have all the answers, but maybe, just maybe if I share my needs with others, someone, something, some 'way' will present itself. I admitted that I actually rely on the kindness of others in many instances to bail me out of what might seem like impossible situations. But I will never know if my 'problem' or any 'problem' can be solved if I or we don't go look for help. Share the situation. Or even ask for help. Sometimes we just have to 'make' something happen somehow.
In the end, I'm not sure if my co-worker bought what I was saying. She still seemed a little dismayed. But, it was interesting to hear her perspective of me. I don't see it. I feel like I live my life in the land of the Philistines just like everyone else fighting giants all day. It seems like one thing after another. Money issues, car issues, house issues, work issues, business issues, health issues, family issues...we all have problems.
Anybody got a BIG rock?
One of my co-workers came up to me and asked very seriously, "How do you do it Dianna?"
At first I was a little thrown off by the question.
"Do what?", I asked.
"What you do", she replied. "You know, whenever someone comes up to you with a problem, you listen to them, and no matter how big or impossible it seems to everyone else, you smile and then you're off and within minutes, you come back with a solution!"
At this point I cracked up.
She looked at me and said, "Seriously Dianna! There are no obstacles for you!"
I laughed so hard I thought I would pee in my pants! But, my co-worker was really being sincere. (So I composed myself immediately) and had to ask, "What are you talking about?"
She then went on to tell me, "I watch you and you make everything look so easy and what is so strange is that here you are this very small woman. You look like a little girl from a distance and I see you talking to people so serious and you make them laugh and I see them nodding their heads in agreement with you and then you come back all happy. Next thing I know. Problem solved!"
"Wow!", I told her, "you give me way too much credit."
She was silent for a moment and then said somewhat sadly, "I would never be able to go ask for help or even think to tell someone that I have a problem."
"Really?", I asked her.
"Dianna, not everyone can do what you do!" she said a little irritated with me.
I apologized and told her that I too have problems and face great obstacles every day. The way I go about solving challenges may be different, but that I'm not special by any means. But, what I have learned is that 'no' sometimes means - find another way.
Sometimes obstacles are really opportunities. And the most important lesson I have learned is that I don't have all the answers, but maybe, just maybe if I share my needs with others, someone, something, some 'way' will present itself. I admitted that I actually rely on the kindness of others in many instances to bail me out of what might seem like impossible situations. But I will never know if my 'problem' or any 'problem' can be solved if I or we don't go look for help. Share the situation. Or even ask for help. Sometimes we just have to 'make' something happen somehow.
In the end, I'm not sure if my co-worker bought what I was saying. She still seemed a little dismayed. But, it was interesting to hear her perspective of me. I don't see it. I feel like I live my life in the land of the Philistines just like everyone else fighting giants all day. It seems like one thing after another. Money issues, car issues, house issues, work issues, business issues, health issues, family issues...we all have problems.
Anybody got a BIG rock?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Doing What I Love
Shame on me! It has almost been a month since I have written on this blog. I'm certain that I am on the verge of losing my one or two readers! If they haven't already given up on me.
I have been busy working on a wonderful project bringing two beautiful cultures together for a short film festival in October. The two cultures being the Palestinians and Israelis. Yeah, pretty cool huh?
I have also been working on my next movie project Pawn Shop. We are doing a lot of marketing and publicity to build the buzz around the movie. But it has been the festival event that has taken up most of my time.
The goal is to pull it off and make sure that it is a cultural event and not a political one. I feel confident that we can and will. We are planning a night of food, dance, music, and films. So much to do, so little time! I love it!
Part of my task it to bring the two communities together.
I had the great honor of going to the Israeli Consulate here in Los Angeles last week and meeting with the Cultural Director. We are hoping that the Consulate will support this project and thus we met with them to give them a break down of how we see the night unfolding.
I am happy to share that they were very supportive.
As you might imagine, the security was very strict and our phones and laptops were confiscated at the door and we were not allowed to take them into the meeting with us. (I must admit that I felt a little naked without my phone). I've gotten so use to having my cell phone on me at all times but hey, I fully understood that I was on Israeli soil and did what I was told.
I couldn't help but wonder if they were x-raying us as well.
The meeting went very well and we were then escorted back to the security area where we were told to wait.
As we (myself and the other producer) entered the room to pick up our belongings, the door shut, and it locked behind us. We looked at each other, tried opening the door, but we were locked in. We, okay I, starting hitting buttons on the wall and knocking on the door. I said something like, "Let my people go!" My producer friend whispered, "Dianna!"
"What?", I replied, "Hey it worked for Moses!", I thought to myself.
Ten plagues later of course.
Luckily we didn't have to wait long.
And maybe it won't take me too long to write again! (Maybe)
Hey, I'm not promising any of that so let it written, so let it be done stuff!
Just know that I'm producing my butt off and I'm doing what I love.
I have been busy working on a wonderful project bringing two beautiful cultures together for a short film festival in October. The two cultures being the Palestinians and Israelis. Yeah, pretty cool huh?
I have also been working on my next movie project Pawn Shop. We are doing a lot of marketing and publicity to build the buzz around the movie. But it has been the festival event that has taken up most of my time.
The goal is to pull it off and make sure that it is a cultural event and not a political one. I feel confident that we can and will. We are planning a night of food, dance, music, and films. So much to do, so little time! I love it!
Part of my task it to bring the two communities together.
I had the great honor of going to the Israeli Consulate here in Los Angeles last week and meeting with the Cultural Director. We are hoping that the Consulate will support this project and thus we met with them to give them a break down of how we see the night unfolding.
I am happy to share that they were very supportive.
As you might imagine, the security was very strict and our phones and laptops were confiscated at the door and we were not allowed to take them into the meeting with us. (I must admit that I felt a little naked without my phone). I've gotten so use to having my cell phone on me at all times but hey, I fully understood that I was on Israeli soil and did what I was told.
I couldn't help but wonder if they were x-raying us as well.
The meeting went very well and we were then escorted back to the security area where we were told to wait.
As we (myself and the other producer) entered the room to pick up our belongings, the door shut, and it locked behind us. We looked at each other, tried opening the door, but we were locked in. We, okay I, starting hitting buttons on the wall and knocking on the door. I said something like, "Let my people go!" My producer friend whispered, "Dianna!"
"What?", I replied, "Hey it worked for Moses!", I thought to myself.
Ten plagues later of course.
Luckily we didn't have to wait long.
And maybe it won't take me too long to write again! (Maybe)
Hey, I'm not promising any of that so let it written, so let it be done stuff!
Just know that I'm producing my butt off and I'm doing what I love.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Measuring Success In This Moment
As of late I have had a difficult time feeling like my life is a successful one. There is so much happening around me, some to me, and a lot has nothing to do with me. I just allow myself to get sucked into a place where I feel icky. I either hear something on the news that makes my heart sink or speak with someone who is dealing with something so heavy like a life-threatening emergency and I can't help but look inward at my own suffering.
As a Christian I know that I was never promised a life without suffering. And that God has and will always provide for me. What is that verse? "Many are the afflictions...but the Lord will deliver them..."
As a practicing Buddhist, suffering or dukha as I have come to understand it, is the first noble truth that the Buddha taught. I view it more as dissatisfaction.
It is so easy to focus on what we need (a car), want (more money) and desire (to grow my businesses) and rarely on what we already have (enough).
And when things are not going as I have planned or I spend my days putting out fires, it is a struggle for me to remain focused, single-minded, and completely mindful and yes, full of love, generosity, and compassion.
How Jesus and Buddha did it baffles me!
The other day, I called my best friend in Austin, Texas and we spoke very briefly. I think she picked up almost immediately that I was feeling overwhelmed. When I get like that, my tendency is to bolt. Run. Fast. Anywhere. Just go. The only problem with that is wherever I go, there I am and so are my problems. She calmly suggested that I find a quiet place to be alone with God and just let Him talk to me.
Her words were music to my ears.
A scripture from the Bible came to me. "Be still and know that I am God".
I took her advice and found in the midst of worry, dissatisfaction, and deep concern, a place to 'hide' and be quiet.
And there it was. His voice saying, "The real measurement of success is based on what you have, not what you want, desire or for that matter what you need. It is what you value in your life in this moment Dianna."
Ouch. That was a little uncomfortable.
I don't think that God was dismissing my needs. For I know that He meets all my needs. What He was saying is how is worrying about them going to get them to me any sooner. Enjoy now. Count my blessings in this moment.
How I take 'this moment' for granted. It is the only moment that counts. In this present moment, I have everything I need. I have my health. I have my family. In this moment I am surrounded by much love. Why isn't that enough? Shouldn't it be?
One would think.
As a Christian I know that I was never promised a life without suffering. And that God has and will always provide for me. What is that verse? "Many are the afflictions...but the Lord will deliver them..."
As a practicing Buddhist, suffering or dukha as I have come to understand it, is the first noble truth that the Buddha taught. I view it more as dissatisfaction.
It is so easy to focus on what we need (a car), want (more money) and desire (to grow my businesses) and rarely on what we already have (enough).
And when things are not going as I have planned or I spend my days putting out fires, it is a struggle for me to remain focused, single-minded, and completely mindful and yes, full of love, generosity, and compassion.
How Jesus and Buddha did it baffles me!
The other day, I called my best friend in Austin, Texas and we spoke very briefly. I think she picked up almost immediately that I was feeling overwhelmed. When I get like that, my tendency is to bolt. Run. Fast. Anywhere. Just go. The only problem with that is wherever I go, there I am and so are my problems. She calmly suggested that I find a quiet place to be alone with God and just let Him talk to me.
Her words were music to my ears.
A scripture from the Bible came to me. "Be still and know that I am God".
I took her advice and found in the midst of worry, dissatisfaction, and deep concern, a place to 'hide' and be quiet.
And there it was. His voice saying, "The real measurement of success is based on what you have, not what you want, desire or for that matter what you need. It is what you value in your life in this moment Dianna."
Ouch. That was a little uncomfortable.
I don't think that God was dismissing my needs. For I know that He meets all my needs. What He was saying is how is worrying about them going to get them to me any sooner. Enjoy now. Count my blessings in this moment.
How I take 'this moment' for granted. It is the only moment that counts. In this present moment, I have everything I need. I have my health. I have my family. In this moment I am surrounded by much love. Why isn't that enough? Shouldn't it be?
One would think.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Living On The Hill
Recently we moved into our new place here in Burbank aka Burbank Hills. OMG! What a view!
Something that I have noticed about living up here besides the spectacular view is the shift in my mindset.
For quite sometime, the impact of the non-strike hold up by the Screen Actor’s Guild, has really put a lot of us in the industry on hold. And that translates into very little if any income for those of us in the business. It has been scary especially for me as a producer as one of the most important aspects of my job is solidifying funding for all our projects.
My husband Earnest even has a nickname for me – Scrilla (slang for money!)
Well, it’s hard raising money in a good economy. Imagine how tough it is in this economy! I spend my days shaking trees, looking under rocks, pitching ideas, and then going back and shaking the same trees! Kicking more rocks hoping I’ve missed something. Sometimes the desperation can be overwhelming and this can wear a person down. I have even resorted to begging and pleading if that will free up money to keep our business going and people working.
The other night as I was driving back from a Women In Film International meeting in Beverly Hills, I drove through downtown Los Angeles and it struck me as I looked up at the tall buildings and all the busy activity - I live twenty five minutes away from downtown and can see LA’s skyline from my house!
From my backyard, I can look out and see my world from a different perspective now. For way too long I have lived in the valley looking up at the hills and wondering, hoping, and praying, how much longer will we endure such craziness.
Since we moved, it’s like a shift happened. I’m owning this hill top view. We may have been in the valley for a time, but things are changing and so should I.
We (Earnest and I) have worked our asses off (yeah I said it!) to get where we are and I have been walking around feeling defeated and it has affected my attitude, my mindset, and my perspective.
And I hope that I am not sounding arrogant, because there is a part of me that still feels like a Burbank Hillbilly. What I am saying is that my new view has given me a new way of really seeing. Seeing what I’ve been and giving me hope for what I have yet to accomplish. Where you live, I am learning, is more than just a location. It is where you live in your mind that makes all the difference. A nice address and view are just places, but when your mind is right, you see things differently, more clearly. The view from my home may have sparked a change in mindset, but the real difference came only when I looked inside myself to see my own worth, and surprisingly, that worth had little to do with anything more than my own sense of who and what I was.
Something that I have noticed about living up here besides the spectacular view is the shift in my mindset.
For quite sometime, the impact of the non-strike hold up by the Screen Actor’s Guild, has really put a lot of us in the industry on hold. And that translates into very little if any income for those of us in the business. It has been scary especially for me as a producer as one of the most important aspects of my job is solidifying funding for all our projects.
My husband Earnest even has a nickname for me – Scrilla (slang for money!)
Well, it’s hard raising money in a good economy. Imagine how tough it is in this economy! I spend my days shaking trees, looking under rocks, pitching ideas, and then going back and shaking the same trees! Kicking more rocks hoping I’ve missed something. Sometimes the desperation can be overwhelming and this can wear a person down. I have even resorted to begging and pleading if that will free up money to keep our business going and people working.
The other night as I was driving back from a Women In Film International meeting in Beverly Hills, I drove through downtown Los Angeles and it struck me as I looked up at the tall buildings and all the busy activity - I live twenty five minutes away from downtown and can see LA’s skyline from my house!
From my backyard, I can look out and see my world from a different perspective now. For way too long I have lived in the valley looking up at the hills and wondering, hoping, and praying, how much longer will we endure such craziness.
Since we moved, it’s like a shift happened. I’m owning this hill top view. We may have been in the valley for a time, but things are changing and so should I.
We (Earnest and I) have worked our asses off (yeah I said it!) to get where we are and I have been walking around feeling defeated and it has affected my attitude, my mindset, and my perspective.
And I hope that I am not sounding arrogant, because there is a part of me that still feels like a Burbank Hillbilly. What I am saying is that my new view has given me a new way of really seeing. Seeing what I’ve been and giving me hope for what I have yet to accomplish. Where you live, I am learning, is more than just a location. It is where you live in your mind that makes all the difference. A nice address and view are just places, but when your mind is right, you see things differently, more clearly. The view from my home may have sparked a change in mindset, but the real difference came only when I looked inside myself to see my own worth, and surprisingly, that worth had little to do with anything more than my own sense of who and what I was.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy (Thanksgiving) Valentine's Day!
That's right! Happy Thanksgiving Valentine's Day!
This year the Harris family decided to combine holidays so we celebrated Valentine's Day with a turkey dinner. All that was missing was the cranberry sauce and my famous chocolate pie! I'm thinking I'll run out in a bit, pick up some cranberry sauce and cut the jellied cranberry into little hearts for leftovers this evening for presentation! Ahhh...who said I'm not the romantic type? Oh that was me.
But, I am thankful today as I am every day. Thankful for the the family I have. Thankful for all our friends. Thankful for our home and all our companies. And thankful for the fact that as crazy as the world seems right now with the economy, the jobless rate, and the amount of suffering that we know is happening, that our family is together and we are happy and we haven't stopped laughing.
To be honest I don't know how we do it!
As my 11 year old son put it the other day when he questioned both me and my husband, "Is that all you guys do all day, just crack each other up and laugh all the time?"
Earnest and I looked at each other, thought about it for a second and burst out laughing. "Not ALL day!", we both responded.
The truth is, we do! We have to laugh. Laugh with each other and continue to love each other and be thankful for each other. It seems to me that when things are as tough as they are right now, my practice says, dig in deep. Change will happen. And until it does, keep loving, be thankful and whatever you do, don't stop laughing.
Happy Thanksgiving Valentine's Day!
This year the Harris family decided to combine holidays so we celebrated Valentine's Day with a turkey dinner. All that was missing was the cranberry sauce and my famous chocolate pie! I'm thinking I'll run out in a bit, pick up some cranberry sauce and cut the jellied cranberry into little hearts for leftovers this evening for presentation! Ahhh...who said I'm not the romantic type? Oh that was me.
But, I am thankful today as I am every day. Thankful for the the family I have. Thankful for all our friends. Thankful for our home and all our companies. And thankful for the fact that as crazy as the world seems right now with the economy, the jobless rate, and the amount of suffering that we know is happening, that our family is together and we are happy and we haven't stopped laughing.
To be honest I don't know how we do it!
As my 11 year old son put it the other day when he questioned both me and my husband, "Is that all you guys do all day, just crack each other up and laugh all the time?"
Earnest and I looked at each other, thought about it for a second and burst out laughing. "Not ALL day!", we both responded.
The truth is, we do! We have to laugh. Laugh with each other and continue to love each other and be thankful for each other. It seems to me that when things are as tough as they are right now, my practice says, dig in deep. Change will happen. And until it does, keep loving, be thankful and whatever you do, don't stop laughing.
Happy Thanksgiving Valentine's Day!
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