So anyone who really knows me, knows that I’m a huge Whitney Houston fan. I’ve loved her since I was a kid and “I Will Always Love You” is my most favorite song ever. I know she’s had it a bit rough as of late, but I truly believe she’s back on track and her new album just released yesterday. I had to get this song in some sort of expression, so naturally I made a photo “montage” of what this song means to me.

Losing my Dad on Easter this year and losing my only sibling, Steve, to cancer in 2005 has devastated my family – but I choose to look to my friends, my family and my loved ones to keep me through the rough times. I hope this video somehow captures that, especially with Whitney’s beautiful new song in the background.

Now go turn up your speakers.

It’s been hot as hell here in Dallas for the last month. We’ve hit over 100 degrees several days in a row and I just saw the forecast for this week – 9 days straight with above 103 degree temperatures. No thank you. I hate this. Hate it.

James and I went to my Mom’s (Broken Arrow, OK) in June and we had an awesome severe storm come our way one morning and I taped it with a 1080 HD Sanyo Xacti video cam. This video brings me comfort and peace.

Feel free to watch this in FULL SCREEN by putting your mouse over the video and clicking on the square (full screen) at the bottom of the video.

Today is the last day of 2008. I must say I’m pretty darn glad to say goodbye to 2008. It hasn’t been the best year for me, but I also know it could have been a lot worse. I have a lot to be grateful for and I am grateful.

I’ve had a hard year in some areas of my life, a real hard year. But in other areas, I’m blessed and thankful. My online life has definitely taken off in 2008. My blog became more popular and although the last couple of months, it’s dipped in visits, it’s beginning to pick back up again. I started the Moxie Mo Show on July 14th of this year, and I have a great number of subscribers and followers every single episode. I’ve been able to hone my social networking expertise with my job and that’s paid off quite well too.

So what are my resolutions for 2009? Well, let me take a shot at them and why not make them public? That way, my audience (you) can hold me accountable.

1. Make the Moxie Mo Show the best podcast it can be. I hope 2009 makes it quite popular and I hope I continue growing. I hope I can even get sponsorships and get paid for the hard work that I put into it.

2. Continue being the best son, boyfriend, friend and coworker I can be. I take my personal relationships quite seriously because I know how fragile life can truly be (after the passing of my brother in 2005). I want to be a great son, boyfriend, friend and coworker to the people that are special to me.

3. Get back into shape. Isn’t this everyone’s resolution? I’ll add a brief caveat to this one, though: I’m not looking to be a marathon runner, but I’d like to be fit again. Healthy. Lose a few LBs. That’d be nice. And stick to it this time.

4. Learn some new things this year. Technologies, video editing (more professionally) and maybe even brush up on my French.

5. Stop worrying. I am a constant worrier. I care too much, in fact. I need to learn that there will be people who just won’t like me and for reasons unsaid (which is their problem, not mine). I hope 2009 will be a time to cut the fat so to speak – those people that I’ve continued trying to reach out to in friendship and that never respond or take the time that I take to keeping the relationship going. Friends come and go, sadly… and that’s ok.

6. Become financially stronger. The last few years, I’ve done a fairly good job in paying back debt and managing my expenses much better than in previous years. This year, I want to continue that trend while putting more money into savings for that rainy day (or for a spur of the moment vacation!)

7. Be happier professionally. I love recruiting, it’s the job I’ve chosen to do since I graduated. I want to become the best I can be and continue to learn and grow. The last few months have gotten real scary in regards to job security and I pray and hope that 2009 will continue to bring me the blessing of a stable job and paycheck.

8. Grow. No explanation needed.

9. One of my favorite quotes will end my resolution list (9 for 2009, ps) – “Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like its heaven on earth.”

I wish you all a very happy and successful 2009. Thank you for being here on my journey and I appreciate your visit.

Want to share your NY’s resolutions? Leave a comment below…

In my 31 years of life, I’ve come to realize a few things. Life can be hard and at times, make no sense. I felt like that when Prop 8 was passed in California last month. However, that being said, one thing I do know for sure… there’s nothing like a bit of comedy to teach people the truth about a hard topic. Bravo to Hollywood on this one.

PS – before you dismiss Jack Black as potentially being blashpemous, he’s not being whatsoever. He’s sarcastically showing you how some on the right “pick and choose” what the Bible teaches. Just think about it. Enjoy!

We all have heard the news from the last several weeks and I must say, it really has brought me down. The world’s economy is falling apart, literally. Constant mud is being thrown from side to side in this intense political election year. America seems divided on some major issues which we all know what can happen to a nation divided… crime is constantly around us as is disease and death.

I came home this past Wednesday from work and I was a bit down in the dumps. A long week. James, my boyfriend, decided to take me and our dog, Deco, to a park and it literally opened my eyes to something so profound. We don’t have to step too far away from our own backyards to see that we do, in fact, live in a wonderful world.

As most of you know, I just got back from a wonderful family vacation in Destin, FL. Destin is one of the most beautiful beach towns I’ve ever been to. I loved it and James and I had such a great time with my family. If you haven’t seen the Moxie Mo Show (episodes 8 and episode 9), please check them out as they show why Destin is called the Emerald Isle.

I wrote an article on Culture Feast before I left on vacation explaining why I was so stressed and why I was in such need of a vacation. My fear, initially, was my vacation would just cause more stress to my already stressed out life. I just started a new job with Fossil as a Sr. Recruiter and prior to starting, life was a bit complicated and super anxious due to uncertainty with where my career path would take me. I started a wonderful, new job and then knew that I would be leaving for Destin which caused my stress to go even higher because I had a lot to do, professionally and personally.

I’m happy to report that I feel refreshed, happy, relaxed and fulfilled (and have a nice lil’ tan going) and I must give all the props to Destin. It’s truly a GREAT place to vacation (family, children or even just yourself) and if you have any questions about the locale, please feel free to email me.

I appreciate all of your comments and emails and tweets and I appreciate you continuing to come back and support my blog as well as my new venture with the Moxie Mo Show. We have over 1,000 people who have downloaded the podcast in iTunes and I couldn’t be happier! I realize these numbers don’t compare to Geekbrief, PopSiren or even PhillyD, but they all had to start somewhere, right? So, if you like the show, do me just ONE FAVOR and tell a friend to subscribe to the Moxie Mo Show!

It’s a fun-filled show about hot topics going around the blogosphere and the world and I’m not afraid to talk about them! Why Steve Jobs’ health has become a hysterical video, Apple releases a brand new iPhone update, China is in some HOT WATER over their sneakiness to the media and bloggers and is there really a government coverup going on over Alien feces? Find out here on the Moxie Mo Show Episode 12!

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Moxie Mo Show – Episode 12 – HOT TOPICS! from Jeff McCord on Vimeo.