Monday, August 31, 2009

Things are better than they seem



Things are always better than they appear. I learned this when I was given the smallest bone and Sasha and Jillian got the bigger ones. I felt jealous, and a bit bitter, until I bit into the deep peanut butter that came out of the small bone. In these uncertain economic times it's easy for Amber to worry about the securities she is used to both financially and emotionally. Things can affect dogs and people in different ways, and security is incredibly significant to Amber. It makes me sad when she worries nervously. I know that everything works out, and also know that with so many mulitple projects, something is going to hit. In a busy business like show biz it's easy to run with fear in between projects, but I wag my tail, curl up with our friends stay reminded that things are always better than they appear, and that it will all work out.There is the right time and right place for everything. We spent the other day with a wonderful new friend and we are learning so much from him. It's so nice to be challenged, and through it learn new things. And it made me think that so many times we just happen to be in the right place at the right time and see these things that really are quite special. But then I really got such a profound sense that it's not an accident, God just puts us there and all we have to do is enjoy it. Or screw it up. Bark. I do believe that there is a reason for the people in our lives though, and that once one lesson is learned, we postulate new opportunities, and friendships and hopefully get to keep the old ones too. It's been unbelievably hot here in Los Angeles, and the heat wave is unbearable sometimes. The hiking is on hold for the week until things cool down so there is plenty of time to work. xo Wuff Wuff

Charlie the dog blog

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Yesterdays world



Charlie the dog blog

There have been so many times when you have found me in yesterdays world. Paying high prices for mistakes made in the past like pooping on the floor, barking at the wrong dog, or for Amber-- making many mistakes while living in a fog. Living in yesterday is something that can't be avoided sometimes. However, this is such a great opportunity to open up the doors, and let new lessons fly in. Living in the now is the best way to look at your life and celebrate today. Letting go of all pride and mistakes and not letting them hold you from your destiny is significant.

Today there are so many summer parties, and places to go. It is a blessing to be invited everywhere, but it's also alot of time going "here and there" and giving many hugs and thanks to those who have opened their hearts. It is our belief that there is a higher power at work, and that by really going after what we want we cannot fail. Yes, we can get heartbroken, yes we can fumble, but what the hell is wrong with living a BIG full life? How can we expect to achieve anything if all we do is stay hidden from our real hopes and dreams because of yesterdays failures?

Sasha dog will be home soon, and we are waiting for her to come back and wag her tail all over the place. Loving where we are, and remembering yesterdays lessons are not todays moments....... is the best way to live for me. But hey-- I'm a dog. What do I really know anyway?

Charlie the dog blog
Charlie

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Lessons from the dogblog


History teaches us the best lessons. If only we would always learn our own personal lessons from our own history. Went hiking with Katia and Sasha. What a great time it is to just get away and hike and share a friendship away from bills, city smog, and all the other things that bother Amber and bog her down sometimes. She is in the midst of several really big projects however, and we know this year is going to be one of the best, but also one of the hardest. In the midst of lessons it's always best to just breath, hike with a friend, and take a moment to remember that we are all flawed in some ways, and that if we do the best we can, and make amends for our mistakes, opportunities will come, and lessons wont be so harsh.
xoxo

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Note from Amber on BIZ



Dreams to reality; dare to take action

Everyone comes to Hollywood with a dream. They come here to make it big, to become a star, to live the fancy life most people just see on television. These desires are not just a dream to many artists, but a definite way they MUST live. They must do what they love, they must have their own expression, and through the entertainment business they feel they can finally fit, they can finally belong, they can finally make their dreams a reality. Artists are my favorite kind of people. Artists think differently than non-artists. They must dance, sculpt, write, act, paint, or create in their own way or they are depressed. Artist’s give who they are internally, and find a way to express it to the world.
Here is what I found as a definition of an artist.
n.
One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value, especially in the fine arts.
A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill: You are an artist in the kitchen.
One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts.

In my opinion who would want to do anything else? I can say that. I’m an artist. Everyone has a deep need to contribute to the world in his or her own special way. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins has even said that it’s a deep human NEED to contribute, and that everyone must in some way. Contribution comes in many ways but for Artists it’s a way of life. I am thankful for the artists that have contributed prior to me, and grateful for those who are continuing to create works of aesthetic value.
Artists are the ones who demonstrate history for us. Because of artists we understand the ways of life of those who lived before us. We understand the life of a man in the 20th century when we study Picasso. We learn of the ways of life when looking at the old walls of Egypt We understand comedy and tragedy when we watch an old Chaplin movie, and how history changed forever with Lumiere’s film Arrival of a Train. In the short film, terror gripped audiences in only fifty seconds as they witnessed an everyday occurrence on film for the first time. A train pulls into a station. Simple for us to understand because in modern films we watch buildings blowing up, people disappear, and worlds created by artist’s imaginations. However, in film history this small film made the audience run for safety, scrambling to get away from the locomotive because they had never experienced film, and the movement of something unreal. That gives us understanding of a time before us. That’s history. That’s an artist’s work. I remember the tragic day airplanes struck the world trade center. I watched it from my television on the first day I arrived in Los Angeles. I was helping a friend cast a project and many of the actors called in and said they couldn’t make the audition because of the tragedy. I didn’t comprehend the gravity of the situation at that time because I was numbed to seeing this sort of thing in films for years. It took me about 2 days to realize what this was really about, how lives were really lost, and the significance of the horrible day in America. I didn’t run from the screen, I didn’t scramble for safety. However History shows us that modern cinema has also numbed tragedy through entertaining audiences. Never underestimate the importance of being an artist, it is one of the most significant contributions to society that one can give.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Head out the window


Charlie the dog blog

BIg things are happening here in Hollywood and every dog knows it. Things happen so quickly sometimes that we expect it will always be busy with people, and excitement. Amber is having a moment to catch her breath after Allie left. Amber has been struggling because she misses her girl already, and no one can ever take the place of family. Having things go a different way than what you believe is the right way is tough. Powerlessness over people, places, and things, is a tough thing sometimes. It's hard because you have to turn things over to God, and have FAITH that God really knows your best path. It's really something to have faith, and it takes alot of practice, and even prayer to have more faith. Amber really likes to control her environment, her friends, her productions and career, but sometimes things are just out of our control, and to think there ever is any real control is silly. That's when it's time to let go..and just trust. Some things are just strange-- and having faith in the unknown is one of the strange things we have to do. Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window! I do it all the time. Sometimes we just don't know what we really even want. We just have to trust that some higher power does.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

I believe in Life



Charlie the Dog Blog

Change is hard. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Making real changes when habits are already formed, makes me growl, and stick my tail between my legs. New tricks are better, but learning them, is tough. If I hear the can opener, I instantly salivate. I the refridgerator door opens, I wag my tail. What if I try something different? What if I rearranged my life and stopped just drinking toilet water and using my water bowl as a fountain of fun, what if I did the OPPOSITE? I have to resist the urge to roll around in stinky stuff right after I bathe.

Amber has made changes that are unexpected this week. Things were thrown in her lap that made her open her eyes, and realize she has more potential than what she has been settling for. Why do we settle? Well for Amber it's comfortable. A change makeover is now absolutely in progress.It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides if they make efforts.

Someone close to us hurt Amber this week by saying cruel things. It's easy to believe what was said, and it took a real moment of reflection to get past the hurt and realize that people throw stones when they are hurting. Amber certainly isn't a saint, and doesn't want to pretend she is. However, when we allow people to make us feel bad over and over again, our esteem suffers. When our esteem is lost how can we really help the greater good? God wants us to do great things, and God knows the truth. Just because someone abuses us doesn't mean we have to let it happen again. Last night Amber asked someone if they believed in Heaven, and they replied "I believe in Life." That really stood out to her because so many of us, her included, think about the future, the past the problems, rather than solutions. "I believe in LIFE" means to live for right now, and excuse my bark but "fucking enjoy it" now, not later. Now. I will no longer chase a stupid stick, unless it leaves Ambers hand.

I wish you all love life and the privilage of believing in life.