Elton John - Never To Old (To Hold Somebody) LIVE - The Union Song

Elton John and Leon Russell's new album "The Union" is out later this month. This is a LIVE recording of a song from the album that he played in San Diego in August. I just finally got it uploaded. Very nice lyric.

MS Challenge Walk! Please Give!

This is an email I sent out to friends and family. I really need to raise money. If you can give, please read below and click on the link at the end. Thank you!


PS - I'll be posting real articles soon. Just busy with work and everyday I'm a little more out of time! 


Hello All,

I need your help.

This year, I have again made the decision to walk in the 2010 Challenge Walk MS which will take me 50 miles from Carlsbad to San Diego in three days. I'll start on September 24 and finish on September 26.

This journey is important for me personally because I have MS. Ten years ago I was diagnosed and I know that I am very fortunate to be able to walk today. There are many people with MS who can no longer walk or move. The disease can be disabling and the range of symptoms is diverse. There is no known cause or cure for MS. Medicine has come a long way from the time when doctors said, "there is nothing we can do" but we are still a long way off from a cure.

Research is needed and quality of life programs are key to help those people who live with the disease daily are key to the well-being of those with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Society's Pacific South Coast Chapter has given me the opportunity to impact the lives of others through speaking engagements as an MS Ambassador, putting a face to MS as a Champion Against MS and the annual Walk MS that my employer, Provide Commerce sponsors.

My Champions story is here if you'd like to read my story: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/cas/chapter-news/stories/rabiah-coon/index.aspx

This year, my Walk MS team was the number 1 fundraising team in Southern California at $40,000!

Please sponsor me. Any amount will help. My goal (and the minimum I need to raise) is $2500.

If you can help, click here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/rabiahc

Thank you for reading and for your support,

Rabiah

Impulse Live! 8/26 Guests Announced! Tune In!

Impulse Live! 8/26 Guests Announced! Tune In!

Lydia Live! Tonight at 7p PT!

Lydia Live! Tonight at 7p PT!

Lydia Live! July 28, 7p - 9p PT

Live show on TODHD, Wednesday!

Click here for details: Lydia Live! July 28, 7p - 9p PT

Impulse Magazine Live - Round 2! (show review)

Impulse Magazine Live - Round 2! (show review)

Impulse Magazine Live, 7/22, SHARE This and Tune In!

Impulse Magazine Live, 7/22, SHARE This and Tune In!

For Your Entertainment: It's 3am, Where Are You?

For Your Entertainment: It's 3am, Where Are You?: "I was online last night when I should have been asleep and across the Twitterverse comes a message from John Mayer announcing a Ustream chat..."

I'm Watching Frasier

I read an article today about the fall of television and then, I read another one. Huffington Post will tell us that the big 4 (ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS) aren't pulling their numbers. Courier Press said that the late night talk shows aren't getting viewers. Yeah, really? I mean, in-fighting amongst the hosts isn't cool. Is anyone into Leno after he hurt their precious Coco?

Personally, I feel like watching "Frasier" much of the time. You can watch it anytime at Kelsey Live, Kelsey Grammer's website which is part of this other site, TODHD. It's pretty cool.
He's even starting his own show in the Fall called The TOD'nite Show.

When I miss a show, I usually just catch it online or watch most things on DVR. Anyway, I'm not surprised to hear that less people are watching tv. I'm probably not...

Gratitude

I have learned a lot about gratitude lately and what it means to be thankful for what I have versus what I wish I had. It isn't the time of year that I'd expect to have these lessons be a part of my life but it is the right time nonetheless. I usually wait until Thanksgiving to say what I'm thankful for but the time is now.

I have a fantastic family. After arguing with my Grandma last week and realizing that it was stupid to do so, I'm grateful to still have her around. She's 85 this year and I vividly remember a horrific day a couple of years ago when I thought she might not be here much longer.
My Sister is a wonderful mother and I have 2 nephews and a niece whom I love, more than any other people in the world. They are the coolest little people and each one has taught me more than the next about love and and what it "unconditional" means.
My Mom is someone that I can't imagine going more than 2-3 days without talking to. She blew me off for the Celebrity Apprentice tonight but I totally understand that. She loves the show. I think that is so cool. There are few shows she truly loves and that is one of them. I don't know why but that entertains me. Also, I watch that show just to make sure we can talk about it.
My Dad is someone that I didn't talk to much over the past 20 years and is my step-dad but in recent years, I have come to love him too. I don't know him well and may never know him well but I've seen in his eyea kindness that though he can't express, I know is there. I think in another time, he would have been the heroic perfect father.

I have excellent friends. I had a party today. It was simple with Kabobs that I skewered with care, Couscous Salad and some fresh veggies with hummus, some yummy (yes, I said "yummy") Tzaziki and Cilantro Yogurt dips. Everything was wonderful. It was a great day. There was no stress and only a little sun, a fun lawn game (kind of like "Toss Across") and Band Hero. Oh...S'mores. Cupcakes. it was all delicious. And the company; we laughed and talked and laughed some more.

I know right now what it means to be grateful. I had a wonderful day.

I miss my brother very deeply today too. I somehow think that he might have been here with me and been a part of it all. I used to think about taking him in and saving him. I didn't. And that, I regret. But, I am grateful for what I have and who I have and tomorrow, I will try to remember that again.

What simple things are you grateful for? Try to remember what those are and try to live with them and celebrate them.

Love.

Sundance Twenty-Ten, Prequel

It was a total fiasco getting to Park City, UT from San Diego today. After proudly booking a flight yesterday and then switching to get the earlier flight that I wanted, I thought everything was great. I was even on time to pick up my friend Amy.

Well, we got to the airport and checked in and when it was time to board, found out our flight was delayed. Within an hour, the flight was cancelled. In fact, all Southwest flights were cancelled at that moment. Then, an hour later, just as we were ready to fork out some cash to Delta, our flight was going to board.

3 hours and 2 Bloody Mary's in, we were ready to go.

Then upon approaching Las Vegas to connect to SLC, we were told we had to circle Vegas but not land. Round and round we went until we spun off to Reno for a refuel. Recall the statement above about the Delta flight? It was a direct flight but I digress.

Reno added an hour to the trip by the time we got fuel and de-iced. It was a bumpy flight back to Vegas with the highlight being plane-shaped graham crackers that were also known as lunch.

So, that Delta flight...we would have been in Salt Lake City instead of Reno...next time, I think I'll just pay the difference. One of those things we couldn't have known before!

Back in Vegas we got a 5 minute reprieve from the seats that had held us close for
4 hours.

Finally, around 8pm, we were in our hotel in Park City. It took 13 hours from the time we arrived at SAN to the time we arrived at our hotel.

Opening Night Party didn't happen. We had the chance to get tickets but it we also didn't feel to well.

I did meet a film critic for US Weekly in the lobby which was awesome. I would love to write and get paid for it. I would love to be an expert on film and to have a job that required it.

Tomorrow, it's on! Movies, movies, movies. We have tickets and we're ready to go.

The Dance is starting...

Sundance Twenty-Ten

I am going to the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL. By the grace of some wonderful people, I am going to a place I have dreamed of and am going to see wonderful films and be a part of one of the greatest film festivals in the world.

I am going with a great friend and ready for adventure!

The feeling I have right now is comparable to some of the greatest moments of my life.

So far today:
Flight delayed
Flight cancelled
Flight taking off in 20 minutes!

I am in great hope that I'll make it to Salt Lake City and then Park City asap.

Join me on twitter "rabiahc" as I tweet and here as I blog about my experience.

My first challenge, once I'm there, is getting into the Opening Night Party. I have one ticket and two in my group. It's going to happen.

Tomorrow, the films begin!

Life is beautiful. This is a reminder.

A Serious(ly) Man

I love the Coen Brothers. Joel and Ethan Coen rank among my Top 10, maybe even Top 3 filmmakers/screenwriters. "A Serious Man" was not my favorite movie. After seeing 5 films in one week, I can honestly put this one at the bottom of the 5. If I go back a few weeks or fast-forward a few weeks, it will most likely not be saved from last place unless I take my nephew to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel".

I thought that there were funny parts to this film that looks at the struggle of physics professor Larry Gopnik as his life hits a chaotic wall. His wife is leaving him, his pot-smoking son is becoming a bar mitzvah and his daughter is constantly trying to wash her hair while saving money for a nose job. Richard Kind plays his uncle, who has a cist that he is constantly draining and provides some entertainment. To add to it, a student is trying to extort Gopnik and his neighbors are distracting him.

There were some funny moments and some pretty dramatic moments but in all, I didn't love this film. I wouldn't even recommend it to anyone. It isn't the worst thing I've ever seen but I just didn't get it. I wonder if maybe I don't understand enough about Judaism to really see why it is special or if it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The son and Sy Ableman (the wife's new man) were my favorite characters and did inevitably make me laugh every time they were on screen.

Probably 2/3 into the film, Gopnik seeks the counsel of a few rabbis, one of which was played by Simon Helberg (Walowitz on The Big Bang Theory) and that was a great surprise! I think this happened too late in the film and should have come sooner. He is trying to become a serious man and doesn't think he can do it on his own.

Michael Stuhlbarg did a great job of making Gopnik a character a viewer could only sympathize with and deserves kudos for his acting abilities.

Overall, I give this one a sideways thumb and still can't wait to see what the Coen's have on tap next. If I want to laugh and see a dark comedy, I'll find my Fargo DVD and leave A Serious Man on the shelf.

As I conclude this review, I feel like I really am missing something and am trying to decide if having an awful day before seeing the film led to my lack of patience with it. Maybe you'll really like it. I did laugh and did cringe and that is usually enough but I think I just wanted more. Bummer.

Heavy Films, Heavy Heart

With awards season on the horizon, I have become somewhat obsessed with catching up and keeping up with the films that are available for viewing and in only one case have I been at all disappointed at the theater. I'll review that film later! One night last week, I caught a custom double-feature at the Hillcrest Landmark Theatre and was impressed and crushed twice. "A Single Man" and then "Precious" did me in and I wouldn't change that evening for the world.

"A Single Man" stars a personal favorite, Colin Firth, in a role that displays and challenges his abilities as an actor and he wins. As George Falconer, a homosexual professor who suddenly loses his partner and finds no will to live, Firth portrays sadness beautifully and convincingly. In order to give nothing away, I am being careful here but I held my breath several times and eventually became choked up during the glimpse at one day in the man's life. Julianne Moore's small role was entertaining and impacting and along with some flashback scenes offered a glimpse into Firth's character before the death of his partner. Nicholas Hoult, who you probably remember last from "About a Boy" is grown up and gorgeous as a student who plays a big part in Falconer's last day. The fashion, the actors, the cinematography and the script make A Single Man a unique, quiet and impacting film. The use of color was incredible as well.

"Precious" was difficult because of the subject matter alone. Precious is played by a first-time actress who effectively broke my heart from the start in a painfully authentic and unexaggerated performance as a teenage girl who is pregnant by her father for the 2nd time and still finds the will to try to improve her life. She lives with her terribly abusive mother and is still in Junior High. Things begin to change when she is placed in an alternative school and begins to learn about love. This isn't a typical after-school special or Lifetime-esque movie. This is a gritty and painful story and is very hard to watch but it is worth the time. There is some relief in Precious' daydreams of becoming someone else but otherwise, it is rough. Lee Daniels did an incredible job of telling the story of Precious and made the exact right casting decisions for the title-role. It is said that he initially looked for girls who were just like Precious--living in the projects, uneducated, etc. but then he went with someone who didn't come from that background and that was the best move.