Paul began playing in his youth and building bands with friends in garages. As an artist Paul has always been a purist at heart. It was always clear through our conversation about his music aspirations. He knew that the path he wanted to follow would be challenged by the world who watched him because it would not be a path of conservative choices but what passion ever is…

As the years went on I would see Paul and his bands playing gigs and private venues all around the Tampa Bay area. His following always glad to be where he was happy and having fun. A few years back Paul began teaching young people how to perform and play in bands and that has moved his passion to a deeper place of sharing his personal talent in a way that will have an even longer impact on the local community of the Tampa Bay area than even creating memories of fun loving music moments.
Paul opened “THE HOUSE OF ROCK” a school for musicians and singers to provide a platform for the bay area young music lovers to explore their personal love for music and performance. From the first stages of interest to the most talented and accomplished artist before they make it to the bigger audience stages they have a place. Paul has chosen the Carrollwood Community Center as the school’s location and has also partnered with the popular music store ‘Sam Ash’ in the Carrollwood area of Tampa,Florida to host the bands public performances. It’s no wonder such an obvious synergy has happened between two great music presence in town.
Today there are opportunities for those who love music to be involved at every level of mentorship or contribution. You or your young person can learn to play in bands and in public. Now you can find an opportunity for your music to shine.
There are also opportunities to sponsor young people who have economic challenges to experience dreams and lessons beyond their wildest imagination. For more information you are invited to Paul Cazares.com to find out more about ‘The House of Rock’

Don’t be shy let the music play…Click here!

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall..

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

TRUE VISION …to see another’s need…to respond and fill it.

So nineteen shell-shocked birthday guest, after experiencing a complete meltdown at the original choice restaurant, were forced to find a second opportunity for their celebration with no reservations on a Saturday night, in Land o’ Lakes on Highway 54, using cellphones to be sure every one could find each other. Due to our sizes and the lack of opportunities in the area we found our way into the North Pointe Village on North Pointe Parkway and serendipitously stepped into the doors of Bangkok Sushi

Bangkok Sushi opened June 3rd 2009 and is only seven months old. They have a lovely menu that includes Thai and Sushi dishes that are very fresh, flavor filled with a decorative presentation. This jewel of a restaurant was created by a son of the ‘Land of Smiles’… Thailand, John Chieopanich and his very friendly Thai team of Chefs, Sushi Chefs and Wait Staff. When asked how he found such friendly and competent people to help make his amazing restaurant so successful he explained his association with The Thai Association of Tampa.

This very welcoming and gracious team of professionals cheerfully greeted us and quickly arranged for a perfect table right in the middle of this beautiful restaurant complete with eloquent Thai decor which you can see more of by clicking below to go to Bangkok Sushi’s website gallery.

From start to finish the professional team at Bangkok Sushi made sure our experience was just right to celebrate together with great atmosphere, very fresh tasty dishes and kind service which included a surprise flaming Thai happy birthday dessert complete with Thai instruments brought out for our table to enjoy.You would have thought it had been planned days before to be a perfect evening for the birthday celebration. It allowed the guest to completely calm down and even begin to laugh a little more about the events of the evening. By the end it was decided that everyone would sign the empty magnum in memory of this extremely unusual night’s experiences.

It always has so much to do with leadership the way things can go so well or not so well at all. Unlike the experience at the beginning of the night, the experience with the owner of Bangkok Sushi, John Chieopanich, happened due to his earlier 26 years of experience in hosting guest in a first class atmosphere. Mr. Chieopanich has been in leadership of Thai restaurants in Miami at ‘Siam Lotus’ as well as in Milwaukie in association with ‘The King and I’. Having study architecture in college when he lived in New York it is clear that he understands the art of designing and constructing a beautiful restaurant and a beautiful experience for his guest. Khop Khun Mak…Thank You very much to all at Bangkok Sushi!

Click here to see Bangkok Sushi’s menu

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Love to hear from you about how nature impacts your life and perspective…use the comment tab to share your nature story.

Personally my interest in who and what Mandela ‘the nation builder’ is and stands for has been stimulated by an interview done by those who have had a closer look at this significant man,they seek to introduce Nelson Mandela “Madiba”, to the rest of us who might also be interested to understand more about the power of Mandela’s incredible focus.

Click here to see and hear the 54min interview.

To your future focus!

P.S.

FYI:

I thought you might want to know about the 46664 Bangle initiative
http://www.theBangle.com, where every wrist bracelet sold donates funds to the
46664 campaign of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. During the Invictus film as
they walk through the Robben Island prison, they explain Nelson Mandela’s prison
number was 46664 (prisoner number 466, imprisoned in the year ’64). This number
is now an international symbol for Mr. Mandela’s humanitarian work worldwide,
and it is engraved on every bangle, along with a digital imprint of Nelson
Mandela’s hand.

The bangle project also empowers those affected by HIV AIDS by providing
employment in South Africa through the production of the bangles and the
handmade packaging. The jewelry carries a global message about HIV AIDS
prevention and social responsibility as people worldwide wear the bangle with
pride, inspired by the leadership of Mr. Mandela.

Copper, silver, gold and platinum bangles have a unique serial number and people
can track online the project benefiting from the bangle purchase. Prices start
at $19.99 and can be ordered online at http://www.theBangle.com or through the
call center at 1 866 984 6664.

Thanks for reading,
Julie

God Bless Montgomery Ward!

**True Story of Rudolph**

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer. Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad’s eyes and asked, “Why isn’t Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?” Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he’d rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn’s bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined a make one – a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn’t end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946, Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn’t end there either.

Bob’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation of Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of “White Christmas.”

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn’t so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.

*MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009*

In our very complicated world we seldom prize the important or give honor to the sacred. In is when you can value that important sacred part of your self .that is what you love ,that it is possible to begin to share it with your world,,,your city…your neighborhood…or even just your friends and family.

Thank you to the one who shared this pearl with me…and now I would like to share with you a glimpse of an important love of an artist….Click Here : http://wtww.snor.com/video/2925