Starting the Day With A Smile :)

I started the day with a smile today, literally.

Its not something I would expect to have happen considering all that is going on in our world. Gas prices rising, budget cuts causing teacher layoffs, kids bringing guns to schools, political bickering and blaming on both sides of the aisle. These are tough times.

Even on a personal level, Angie and I have plenty on our plate to keep us worried and working. Her dad has been in the hospital for several days now and they still haven’t figured out exactly whats going on with him. Our oldest daughter Nikki was recently involved in a wreck and her car was totaled… Thankfully, she was not hurt badly but the car is gone and it wasn’t completely paid for yet. Our youngest lives in Long Island, New York. In the same county where officials have been uncovering bodies from a suspected serial killer who preyed on young women. Meanwhile here at home, Angie’s car is in the shop, and the repair bill which was only going to be about $650 may be about to triple because they say she is likely to need a new engine, not just new fuel injectors.

I’m sure there’s more but I think you get the idea.

Even so, I started the day with a smile as I walked out my back door on my way to my home studio in the garage and saw an Easter Lilly almost ready to bloom.

Many of you who know my wife and I, know that we are not good at keeping plants alive. Our grass grows well, but so do the weeds. In fact our grass grows better in the cracks of the sidewalk and driveway than it does anywhere else. Our flower beds are almost always getting attention, but it’s the attention of the homeowners association demanding that we at least try to make them pretty. Our patio is littered with lifeless pots, with little or nothing growing in them. We have the remnants of what used to be a beautiful ficus tree in the back yard… its now a twisted and broken mess of bare limbs and roots that didn’t make it through the last winter. The same story can be told of a huge philodendron in the back yard and what we always called a fiddle leaf fig plant. All dead or dying. But this Easter Lilly is something else.

Just a few months ago, we found the pot that has held this plant for several years laying on its side, with about half the dirt falling out. We suspect a cat tried to bury something there or maybe it was the dog….I gave it up for dead, but it is back. And its right on time. It has been through its tough times in the past year, just like we are experiencing now, yet it keeps coming back each year at Easter to show us new life. Just like everything it symbolically represents. It remains constant each year and renews our faith that God will see us through all the things we face and that we have hope for our future.

Happy Easter

Kevin

A Year Later

I've been working on taxes for the past week or two, trying to get it all completed before the April deadline. As I was entering information on Turbo Tax today, I realized that it has been exactly a year since I decided to focus my efforts on building a business and creating my next "job" for myself. I still keep a resume or two floating around cyberspace and I will occasionally send one to a specific job opening I come across, but for the most part, I am one of the statistics that make the monthly jobless figures difficult to tally at best. I ran out of unemployment benefits and never officially got a new job... So, I am no longer among those counted as "unemployed" but I'm not employed full time either. Its as if I dropped off the radar (almost).

Here I am a year later... now listing my official occupation as Voice Actor, Voice Over Artist, or whatever you want to call it. I make my living using my voice. And the more I study my tax information from the last year, I realize that I have done better than some thought I could do at this. I have not struck it rich... I still get behind on bills now and then and I have had to go beg clients to pay what they owe me so I could put gas in my truck now and then, but looking at the invoices I have sent out, I'm doing ok. In fact, I am now working from home and making pretty close to the same kind of money I was making at my previous job… but without the politics, the stress and the commute.

In the past year I have been able to take my work on the road, delivering local newscasts for radio stations up and down the West Coast and on AM 700 KSEV here in Houston from hotel rooms in Pennsylvania, Boston, New York, among others, my daughter's apartment in Dallas and my mom and dad's home in East Texas. Best of all, my official place of business is in my garage in Missouri City, Tx near Houston. Its amazing what you can do with 120 square feet of space that would otherwise be collecting junk... (I was never going to be parking a car in there anyway...)

I have also been able to do jobs for clients all around the globe. This weekend, I did repeat business for a video producer in Israel. I've also produced scripts for clients in Singapore, India and all over the USA... Technology not only allows that but it also helps me get paid almost immediatly if not sooner by the use of Paypal, I am now the voice of several web sites and internet based presentations, I helped bring life to a portrait by providing the voice of General Sam Houston at an exhibit for a San Antonio museum, and I recently completed recording my first audio book, "The Surviving Spouse Club," by my friend Charles Foster. It is in the final editing stage and should be available on his website soon. http://www.survivingspouseclub.com/

I have invested more in myself during the last year than in my life in general. I joined the Audio Publishers Association and attended their annual conference in New York City in May. It put me in the same room with the people who make audio books come to life from the publishers side and the narrator side of the business. I am already making plans to attend the event again this year. I have also attended several training seminars and webinars hosted by veteran voice talent and coach Bettye Zoller of VoicesVoices.com, and I have spent more time reading about and studying the business of voice over than even I thought I would. My goal? To soak up all the knowledge and information about my chosen career as possible so that I might become the person others turn to and say "I want to do what he does for a living!"

I have also made a lot of new connections with people in the business of Voice Over and am able to learn from them by simply asking questions through facebook or Twitter connections. Its a business full of people who love to share ideas, technology notes, editing tricks and techniques, just about anything you want to know. And even though its a highly competitive business, we all celebrate when someone lands the next big gig and becomes the new Aflac duck or lands a role in a major animated production. I guess it has to be the fact that we all have our own unique sound, so we are not afraid of sharing some of our tips and techniques. So that is where I am one year later... I'm pleased with the progress I have made... and looking forward to the next leg of the journey.

Here's an idea... lets meet back here in 12 months and see where we stand then. In the meantime, checkout the demos I have on my website. http://www.provoices.net/. You never know, maybe at this time next year, I could be your new voice.

No One Answered...

Many of us these days use our driving time to take care of making phone calls. I know that's usually when I get to talk to my mom as well as several of my friends. I reserve the drive to and from work for those who I know I will be on the line with for awhile. But there are times when I dial... and no one answers.

That was the case this afternoon as I left my house headed for work in the Galleria area. Its a good half hour or so of quality talking time (using a hands free device of course)...but no one answered. I tried about three numbers in my cell phone before figuring out that I had wasted about a third of my talking time trying to find someone to talk to, when in reality, there was someone with me the entire time just waiting for me to talk to Him.

It brought back memories of the days gone by before cell phones when those drive times were my quiet time to be with God...praying.. singing...meditating on lessons learned or the ones I needed to learn. It felt good to talk to Him on the way to work... and yes I talked out loud. We worked through several issues that had been on my mind... I unloaded plenty of things that had been weighing heavily on me, some of which had caused me to lose sleep at night. I also spent a lot of time telling Him thank you for being so good to me and providing for the things my family needed. It was as if I were talking with an old friend..one who was happy to hear from me and wants me to stay in touch more often than I have been doing. I plan to do just that... so if you're one of those folks I usually call while I am driving, you may have to wait your turn for a while. I know you won't mind.

I still got to talk to my mom for about an hour a little later in the evening... and I got an email from one of the friends I had tried calling...so everything worked out according to God's plan. Looks like He was the reason why no one answered...

Three Friends In Need of Your Prayers

While most of us were enjoying our Thanksgiving feasts, visits with family and friends, vacations from working, and football games over the past few days, it was easy (*at least for me) to put the troubles of the world on hold for awhile. That was not the case for many others though... daily doses of chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments could not be put on hold...

I got back to Houston this evening just in time to go to work for 5 hours on the radio... I thought about how much I would rather not have to go to work tonight... but then realized quickly that at least I had this job to go to... and that I was physically able to go to work. I have plenty of friends who have no job... and others who physically cannot go to work.

In most cases, those who are out of work, will eventually find a new job. But those who are facing major health issues and are out of work too, often do not see much of a future ahead of them. They're afraid. They're trying to be strong. They want their lives back.

As you continue to thank God for your blessings, remember in prayer those who are not feeling as blessed these days. Pray for jobs... pray for healing... pray for peace.

Three friends of mine in particular need much prayer and support right now as they fight cancer. I hope you will join me in praying for them by name for the next week or so. Lift up their names before the Creator who has the power to give them life and health.

These are the names and situations for my three friends... I am sure you have others that you would like to share as well. If you do, please mention them in the comments section below and we'll add them to the list.

Jo Knight... Jo lives in Fort Worth now... she is married to my good friend and business associate Cecil Knight...(former traffic reporter in Houston) Together they operate Knight Sounds, a mobile DJ entertainment company. Jo has been fighting cancer for many years. She is already a miracle in motion...but now she has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer too. She's facing new Chemo treatments and the two of them are making regular trips from Fort Worth to Houston's MD Anderson. They are self employed, so you can imagine the situation of trying to run a business and deal with a crisis like this at the same time. The physical and financial tolls are astounding.

John Prince (aka John Hourani) is my good friend from the world of radio. He had surgery to remove some brain tumors in July of 2009. After months of hospitalization and rehab he was finally declared cancer free and was regaining the use of the left side of his body which was left paralyzed after the surgery to remove the tumors. He did great for about a year, then the cancer came back. John is now back in MD Anderson getting checked out after a new round of chemo and radiation to treat tumors on both sides of his brain this time. John has been out of work since before the first surgery in 09... Cobra ran out since then too and he has no income. His mobile DJ business, Entertainment Tonight, is drying up because he is not able to conduct business as he would like to do.

Gary Hourani... Yes the same last name as John... its his brother! Gary moved to Houston from California last year to help care for John during his surgery and rehab. He gave up his Chiropractic practice to work with John on regaining the use of his motor skills... He has literally been Johns left arm and leg at times.. Gary was recentlly told he too has a tumor at the base of his skull. He is scheduled to have it removed this week. That leaves his and John's mom and dad to deal with two sons in the hospital fighting for their very lives.. and with little to no money to pay for it...

I'm sure there are others... these are just friends of mine that I am thinking of right now. Please say a prayer for them specifically...

One last thing... an account has been set up at Bank of America to help John and his family pay for his treatments and other needs. I'm told they have plenty of food...but they still need your love and support and prayers. The account information is listed below if you can help. A benefit concert raised close to $1000.00 for John just a week or so ago...but much more is needed.

Sorry this is not the usual light hearted fare that I have been writing about... but these are good people who are suffering right now...And I hope you will help.



ACCOUNT INFO

Bank of America
Account # 586-023-486-976 for John Hourani

Ready to Pay It Forward

Today, my faith in human kind was restored.

I hate to admit that I allowed myself to run out of gas but I did it. I was hoping beyond hope that I would have just enough to make it to the end of the Fort Bend Toll Road where a Kroger gas station was waiting... but no, my tank ran dry about a mile before the road basically dead ends into the Kroger parking lot. I coasted along down hill as long as the truck would roll and then set out walking.

Those who know where I live, know its not too far from where I was. Perhaps a couple of miles, less if I could have cut through the woods and private property to get there, but I didn't. Amazingly enough, I only walked about 2 minutes before a car pulled over and a nice gentleman stopped to offer assistance. I explained where I was going, what the problem was and he said hop in. It was not something I would recommend for my wife or children to do, but from outward appearances, he was a nice man offering to help a guy in need. Thankfully, he was just that...nothing more.

Dave took me to my house, allowed me to bring an almost full can of gas into the front floor of his very clean car... and then drove me back to my truck and waited while I put the gas in and started it up! The entire episode which could have taken all afternoon, was over in a matter of minutes and we were both on our way feeling pretty good about life. He had helped someone and now I feel the need to pay it forward... so watch out. Someone out there is about to benefit from the kindness that Dave extended to me. I have no idea where or when it will happen, but I plan on making sure that it does... and I hope it continues to grow and grow from there.

This world could use a few more guys like Dave.

Today's Post is all about procrastination

Check back tomorrow to see if its written yet. Thanks..

Kevin

Life Lessons Learned On A Train Trip

Many who know me, have already heard all about the big train trip my youngest daughter and I took back in May when she was moving to New York to begin an internship on Long Island. While planning the trip, we decided we wanted to do something different and fun instead of simply jumping on a plane and flying up there and back... so we decided to take Amtrack from Houston to New York's Penn Station. Here are a few of the lessons learned along the way... some are quite noteworthy, others might come in handy for you someday if you should decide to ride the rails instead of flying.

- First of all, a train trip is going to take much longer than flying, so be sure and work that into your schedule...its not the fastest way to get to a destination if you are in a hurry.

- When you take an overnight train trip, get a sleeping car ticket. Its worth every penny. We chose to have a sleeping car for the trip between New Orleans and New York, which was to last about 25 hours or so... But the sleeping car was not just for a place to stretch out... it was also the first class ticket of the train world... we had special boarding accommodations and a special lounge to wait in at the New Orleans terminal on the morning of our departure. The room's cost was a single charge that covered two of us in the room... and it included all our meals in the train's dining car! Not bad, because you have to eat something and there are not too many choices unless you bring your own sandwiches etc... We feasted on burgers, sandwiches, steaks, salads, omelets and much more... and didn't even need to bring a wallet to the table with us.

- The sleeping car also provided us with our own private toilet while traveling... and shower facilities were available just down the hall..

- We got to meet some interesting folks in the dining car during meal times and up and down the narrow hallways to and from our room... One couple across the hall from us had brought some movies on DVD to watch while riding... they were nice enough to loan us a movie which we never even took the time to watch.

- Sitting facing each other in a space that is just barely big enough for two adults to stand or sit in sounds like it could become a problem in itself by the end of a long trip, but it wasn't. In fact, it encouraged more communication between us than if we had been sitting side by side. We didn't go stir crazy... we didn't get tired of talking to each other...

- The most interesting lesson learned during the trip was when we got to discussing the things we were seeing out the windows as we rode along.... I was facing forward.. Andi was facing backward... So I would see a cool looking house or beautiful scene as we approached it... then she would get a good long look at it as we pulled away from it. We could each see the same distance ahead and behind, but yet for me seeing something in the distance getting closer, it took awhile for me to determine exactly what I was seeing... then by the time it was close enough to really see, it would zip right by and out of my view.. but then it was in her view and it stayed there until it faded out of site. We talked about how that was such a metaphor on life... we can't really see into the future to know what is coming our way...until it is upon us. On the other hand, we can see our past very clearly... we can study it... we can hopefully learn from it...

I think that was the best lesson learned from the train trip.. that and the fact that men should probably sit down when using the restroom on board a train... otherwise it can get pretty messy.

Thats all for now...
Kevin