5 Deadly Terms By A Woman

A friend posted this on their Facebook page and I thought it was pretty funny. Have a good weekend.

“Welcome Back, Kotter” actor Robert Hegyes

Well, yesterday I blogged about the recent deaths of famous people and what happens today? One of the Sweathogs in the ’70s hit “Welcome Back, Kotter,” Robert Hegyes dies at the age of 60.

ABC | Getty Images

Hegyes is best known for playing Juan Epstein on “Welcome Back, Kotter,” the 1970s sitcom, which starred John Travolta and Gabe Kaplan. He appeared in all four seasons of the sitcom and joined most of his fellow Sweathogs at the “Welcome Back Kotter” reunion held at the 2011 TV Land Awards. After “Kotter,” Hegyes went on to co-star in “Cagney and Lacey” as Detective Manny Esposito. His other TV work includes an episode of “The Love Boat,” “NewsRadio” and “CHiPS.” (From imdb.com)

I remember watching Welcome Back, Kotter when I was a kid. I loved the theme song of the show too (by John B. Sebastian.) I thought the show was pretty funny. I always wanted to be a “Sweathog” along with Freddie ‘Boom Boom’ Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), Arnold Horshack  (Ron Palillo) and Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta). And I thought Gabe Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) would be a great teacher to have. I did like when Epstein would say, “Hey, Mr. Kotter, I got a note!” Who hasn’t tried that line before?

Plus they had some of the greatest lines:

• “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”
• “What?” “Where?” “Why?”
• “Ooh-ooh-ooooh!”
• “Hi there” when Washington would say it.
• “I’m so confused.”

 

 

Then they started showing reruns of the show in the 90′s and they were still funny. In 2011 the cast of Welcome Back, Kotter was honored with a TV Land Award for their 35th Anniversary. It was nice to see the gang back together again.

The castmembers will be honored with the 35th Anniversary Award at the 2011 TV Land Awards, airing April 17. (Heidi Gutman/ABC )

So sad that stars from our youth are passing away.

One of the best posts that I read today regarding Robert Hegyes’ death was by imdb.com

Rest in peace, Robert… Signed, Epstein’s Mother.

 

Side note:

Looks like there is another cycle of three famous people to die.

 

The Final Countdown

For the past couple of weeks, I have been on a mission to find old movies that I saw when I was younger. One of the movies that I have been looking for is “The Final Countdown” (1980). One of the stars of the movie was James Farentino, who on January 24, 2012, died of heart failure following a long illness. It’s so weird that I have been thinking about that movie and one of it’s stars passes away.

The Final Countdown is a 1980 science fiction film about a modern aircraft carrier that travels through time to just before the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. It was directed by Don Taylor, and stars Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. (From wikipedia.com)

Pictured: James Farentino in the 1984 movie Blue Thunder.

 

I also should mention the passing of Joe Paterno, former head coach of Penn State. Regardless of the events that happened at the end of his coaching career, he was a great college football coach and should be remember for what he did.

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno

So with the resents deaths of Etta James, Joe Paterno and James Farentino, that is three famous people who have past away.

R.I.P.

10 Questions That Create Success

My friend, Jason T. Ryan, posted this on his Facebook page and I wanted to pass it along. These questions are good to ask yourself.

Thanks, Jason!

10 Questions That Create Success

Want help focusing on what really matters? Ask yourself these on a daily basis.

By Geoffrey James |  @Sales_Source   | Jan 23, 2012

Think that success means making lots of money?  Think again.

Pictures of dead presidents have never made anybody happy. And how can you be successful if you’re not happy? And buying things with that all money isn’t much better. A new car, for instance, might tickle your fancy for a day or two–but pride of ownership is temporary.

Real success comes from the quality of your relationships and the emotions that you experience each day. That’s where these 10 questions come in.

Ask them at the end of each day and I absolutely guarantee that you’ll become more successful. Here they are:

1. Have I made certain that those I love feel loved?

2. Have I done something today that improved the world?

3. Have I conditioned my body to be more strong flexible and resilient?

4. Have I reviewed and honed my plans for the future?

5. Have I acted in private with the same integrity I exhibit in public?

6. Have I avoided unkind words and deeds?

7. Have I accomplished something worthwhile?

8. Have I helped someone less fortunate?

9. Have I collected some wonderful memories?

10. Have I felt grateful for the incredible gift of being alive?

Here’s the thing.  The questions you ask yourself on a daily basis determine your focus, and your focus determines your results.

These questions force you to focus on what’s really important. Take heed of them and rest of your life—especially your work—will quickly fall into place.

From Inc.com

Mom – Lydia M. Garza (1940-2010)

I redid the video that I did for my Mom’s funereal in 2010. I used a great App called Flixlab. It was so easy to use.

This time making the video, I didn’t even cry. I miss and love you Mom!

via Mom – Lydia M. Garza (1940-2010).

The Official David Chokachi Facebook Page

Just wanted to post the link to The Official David Chokachi Facebook Page.

David Chokachi

He was kind enough to respond back to me when I asked his some questions about a movie he was in. I just wanted to make sure other fans knew of his page on Facebook.

You ROCK David!

Happy Birthday Pam!

I wanted to wish a very special Happy 21st Birthday to my niece, Pam Keesler.

 

Pam Keesler (2011)

 

I have loved Pam since the second my sister, Cynthia told me about her. I hope you have a fantastic day! The best is yet to come.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM! I ♥ you!

Today is special because you’re 21
Today brings a chance
to look towards the future
new dreams, new successes.
To a bright new tomorrow
waiting for YOU!

~ Unknown Author

David Chokachi

Oh my God, you never guess who replied back to me on Facebook… wait for it… David Chokachi!

Picture from www.davidchokachi.net/

Let me go back a little and explain why David Chokachi replied back to me.

First it started after I saw the movie, “Rage of the Yeti” and blogged about it: Mission: Rage of the Yeti (Posted on November 19, 2011).

Then on November 25, 2011, I sent a message to David (first name, like we know each other??) about the movie he starred in “Rage of the Yeti”. I was curious on the types of movies that actors pick. I didn’t know if I would get a response or not, but I thought what could it hurt to try. Here is the message I sent to David:

Hello! I am writing to you because I am on a mission. I have a blog called: The World According to Sylvia Garza and I blogged about the movie: Rage of the Yeti on 11.19.2011. My mission is to contact on of the actors in the movies to see why they participate in movies like this one or any movies on the SyFy channel. I am trying all different ways to contact you and I thought I would try here.I would love to hear why actors do such movies as Rage of the Yeti. The movie is a fun movie and probably won’t be one of the best movies at the Oscar’s. So I want to know if actors do movies like this one for money, fame or adventure?
Thank you for your time.
A fan, Sylvia

Then I followed up with another post — Update on Mission: Rage of the Yeti (Posted on November 25, 2011). So after I found out more information on the movie and why the actors participated in the movie, my curiosity was fulfilled.

Well on January 22, 2012, I got a message on my Facebook page from… wait for it… yes, David Chokachi! After taking a double take and picking myself off the ground, I couldn’t believe it!

Here is his response to my questions:

hey sylvia, ride on thats awesome. i think we all do it for the adventure and the storyline more than fame and money, i think we all hit the age anyways to not be thinking about fame anymore. i would love to read your blog. and sorry it took me years to reply.

How cool is that! I really didn’t think I would have any luck hearing back from him. But I did. I feel like that teenag girl looking at her “Tiger Beat” magazine dreaming about the cute guys in the magazine.

Thanks David, you made my day!

Side note:

Check out his website

David Chokachi [dot] Net – Official Site

www.davidchokachi.net/

David Chokachi is one of the most recognizable actors working today.

Latina’s Famous Antipasto Salad

I was sitting the other day, watching TV and then all of a sudden Latina’s Famous Antipasto Salad popped in my mind. Latina Restaurant & Pizzeria is a local restaurant in my home town of Flint, Michigan. As a family, we had been going there ever since I was a little kid.

Latina Restaurant & Pizzeria

There is nothing special to their “Famous Antipasto Salad”. It has the following ingredients:

• Pepperoni
• ham
• pepperoncini
• tomatoes
• mushrooms
• pickles
• green olives
• muenster cheese
• crisp iceberg and romaine mix

I think this salad was the first time (and the only time) I would eat muenster cheese. Simple right! Well, I have tried many times to recreate this salad at home and every time, I miss the mark. But the way they make it, it’s perfect mixture that when combine, it’s really tasty.

The last time that I had this salad was in 2005. I always tease my friends to send me foods that I miss from my hometown overnight express. Who knows when I will make it back to Flint for a visit. But one thing is for sure, I will be making a stop at Latina for their “Famous Antipasto Salad.”

In Memory of Etta James

Etta James, whose powerful, versatile and emotionally direct voice could enliven the raunchiest blues as well as the subtlest love songs, most indelibly in her signature hit, “At Last” as well as “Dance With Me, Henry“, “Tell Mama“, and “I’d Rather Go Blind” died on Friday morning in Riverside, Calif. She was 73.

Etta James (Getty Images)

Here are some of the awards that she won:

From 1989, James received over 30 awards and recognitions from eight different organizations, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences which organizes the Grammys.

In 1989, the newly formed Rhythm and Blues Foundation included James in their first Pioneer Awards for artists whose “lifelong contributions have been instrumental in the development of Rhythm & Blues music”. The following year, 1990, she received an NAACP Image Award, which is given for “outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts”; an award she cherished as it “was coming from my own people”.

• 1993, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• 2001, Rockabilly Hall of Fame
• 2003, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Hollywood Walk of Fame, star at 7080 Hollywood Blvd, and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Lifetime Achievement Award
  
• 2006, Billboard R&B Founders Award
  

From Wikipedia

R.I.P. and thank you for the wonderful music you gave us.

 

 

“I’d Rather Go Blind” (1967) — The Reverend’s personal fave Etta James song, “I’d Rather Go Blind” is as close as anybody can ever come to capturing the sound of heartbreak on record. James’ bittersweet, nuanced vocals are understated yet powerful, and although the song failed to chart, it remains a classic nonetheless. Recorded at the Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with Rick Hall providing a masterfully subtle production and the Swampers session gang playing to James’ strengths, this is one of the truly underrated performances in the James canon.

From Etta James’ Greatest Hits — The Ten Best Etta James Songs