The Monkees

At this very moment three of the four Monkees are playing at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida… and I’m NOT there. This will be the first concert I’ve missed of theirs in Florida since my very first concert at age 10 in 1987. To say I’m bummed out or sad is an understatement but, as my friend Jen mentioned earlier, “throw some cds on & celebrate that they can still sell out a concert!” And it’s true. I am very proud of them still. I just wish I were there celebrating instead of lying on the couch writing this.

You see, my first live concert being The Monkees in 1987 is a fairly significant point in my life. This is one of the last years I remember my family being together. We had lost my great grandmother in 1986 to breast cancer. In 1989, my Aunt Kathy passed away from complications of Leukemia. Three months later, my grandfather (my aunt’s dad) passed away from arteriosclerosis but my grandmother was always convinced he died of a broken heart. My Aunt Kathy was his youngest and she was a daddy’s girl. After my grandmother lost both her daughter and son, she was never the same again. Of course, her house being broken into shortly afterward didn’t help things either.

The last striking emotional blow to my grandmother came when my uncle David, her son, died of cancer in 2004. My grandmother had three kids; my Aunt Kathy, my Uncle David and my mom, Pam. By 2004, a year before her own death, she had already buried two of them. No parent should EVER have to bury a child. It’s just so… WRONG.

Over the years though, my grandmother never missed a birthday or anniversary. “Do you know what today is?” she’d ask me. When I was much younger I’d always say, “No. What?” Then she’d tell me what occasion it was, followed by a memory that would make her giggle or turn silent for a few minutes. I just wish she were still around now, so I could record these moments and piece the missing parts of my family together. We have reels of home videos needing explanation. My mom was so young, she can only remember so much.

So it’s not just missing the concert, being broke because I’ve been out of work for over a month sick or feeling too woozy to make the two plus hour drive by myself (because I’m the only one who cares about seeing this concert) that’s bumming me out. It’s all the memories that come with it… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Please help me fight back!

For the 5th year in a row, I am helping to Celebrate More Birthdays by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life and I’m hoping you will support me! In 2009, my goal was to raise $1 from each U.S. state and beyond. I’m happy to say that I successfully raised $1 from 34 of the 50 states, $1 (USD) from FOUR additional countries and I even got $1 from the Marvel Universe! This year, my goal is the same only I want to try and get all FIFTY U.S. states represented!! So far, I’ve got the great states of Texas and Florida… 48 to go! Other countries, Galaxies, outer universes and other planets are of course more than welcome to donate again too!

I know I’m only asking for $1 from each person but I feel bad even asking for that during these hard economic times. Being unemployed myself, I *completely* understand if you can’t donate. Most of you are in the arts and education communities and aren’t able. BELIEVE ME. I get it. If you would consider coming out to our Relay event on November 13 & 14th, 2010 at Osprey Park in Hunter’s Creek, I would greatly appreciate it. Especially this year.

In case you weren’t aware, my mom (Pam Steib), was diagnosed with Stage 1 Uterine Cancer on July 1, 2010. For those of you familiar with my family history, I’ve lost roughly half of my family to this awful disease. Hearing yet another diagnosis was bad enough. The fact that it was my mom this time hit particularly hard. It took me a good few weeks before I could even talk about it to anyone without completely breaking down.
The GOOD news is, my mom’s cancer was caught early and she is responding very well to treatment! Her oncologist is Dr. Robert Holloway with the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, and I’ve heard from many that he’s “THE BEST!” I’m hoping that she will be able to walk with the other Survivors during the Survivor Lap at this year’s Relay. All is looking well so far! Her next appointment with Dr. Holloway is on October 7th. We’ll know more then.


Not familiar with Relay? Well, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives people in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events and 18 hours in length. Our Relay in Hunter’s Creek is 21 hours… and the ONLY Relay in Central Florida in the FALL!!! In addition to helping people celebrate, remember, and fight back, Relay For Life also helps raise much-needed funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save lives from cancer. That’s why I Relay, many times a year in fact! This year I attended over 13 different Relays across Central Florida, and will continue to do so until I can’t anymore.



Please support me in my efforts by visiting my personal web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.

Believe it or not, every donation really does make a difference! Whether it’s $1 or $1,000. Again, I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but any amount you can give truly can help save lives. Consider it an early Christmas or, more appropriately, BIRTHDAY present 



Thanks to your support, the American Cancer Society can:


* Help people stay well by helping them take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable

* Help people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience

* Find cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it, and discover new ways to cure it

* Fight back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight



Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer and whatever your reasons, I hope you’ll choose to make a difference by making a $1 donation online to support my efforts. I am so grateful to have people like you in my life who want to see an end to cancer in our lifetime! Together we can save lives!



Whether you find my excitement and passion for this event inspiring or annoying, thank you in advance for reading this!!

For more more information on our Relay For Life event:
• Please visit our website (www.relayforlife.org/hunterscreekfl)
• Be Our Fan on Facebook (tinyurl.com/hunterscreekrelay)
• Follow Us on Twitter (twitter.com/relayhunterscrk or @RelayHuntersCrk)

Oh! Did someone mention CUPCAKES?! Yep. We got those. Tammi’s Trailblazers, Site 6. Make plans NOW

Indie Cinema Showcase

Jay and I were invited to work on a new television show called “Indie Cinema Showcase.” It’s produced by local filmmaker and Emmy and Telly award winner Gerald Godbout of Godbout Entertainment and is co-hosted by two of our fellow filmmakers, John Theisen and Tim Anderson. It’s Orlando’s only television show about us – local filmmakers – so if you like talking about film or are a filmmaker yourself, you should tune in! ICS can be seen on;

Vision TV Channel 198 on Brighthouse Cable,  Channel 98 on Comcast and Channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse every Sunday at 2AM & 3PM / Tuesday at 10AM / Thursday at 6PM and Friday at 10PM.

Here’s a show synopsis from www.indiecinemashowcase.com;

Indie Cinema Showcase is a show that will spotlight the independent film community in Florida as well as feature the talent of filmmakers from all over the state – with the main focus on Central Florida. The show will give audiences a chance to actually watch independent film projects as well as get valuable insight and knowledge from industry professionals and independent filmmakers throughout our community.

Each show will feature at least one short film, spotlight a local feature-length project, and engage in an interview with an industry professional. Host John Theisen and fellow co-host Tim Anderson will talk about the films being showcased, offer personal feedback/critiques, field audience e-mail questions, and also discuss the related film industry in Central Florida as it pertains to each show. The guest host/interviewee will be an industry leader in a specific field in the world of filmmaking. (i.e. D.P, Editor, Director, Writer)

We’re filming episodes 10-12 now. Not sure when Season Two will start but I can’t wait! (I nearly fainted when I saw THIS pop up on there!!)

On A High

Yay! We found out this morning that our Film “Where Are They Now? Catching Up With the Cast of Beachwatch” WON the Audience Choice vote for Group A at the 48 Hour Film Project Orlando screening! How cool is that?! Let’s hope our luck continues with the judges! Our team name? Super Dragon Team Alpha Force One! Say that five times fast!

If you’re not aware of the 48 Hour Film Project, here’s a brief explanation. A given team has 48 hours to turn in a film – from concept to completion. Elements of your film are given to you and drawn from the 48 Hour starting line in your city. Each team draws a genre. Given elements include; a prop, a line of dialog (that must be used verbatim), a character name and profession.

Our elements for the Orlando 48 HFP:
Prop: A flashlight
Dialog: “Cool it. I know what I’m doing.”
Character/Profession: Alice or Andrew Mann, Bartender
Genre: Our team captain TL drew Mockumentary (YAY!)

For the curious, here’s our short on Vimeo.

Catching Up With the Cast of Beachwatch on Vimeo.

We’d love to hear your feedback on it!

Taking A New Turn Soon…

Watch this space. More stuff coming.

Happy Independence Day!

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Relay For Life: Hunter's Creek, Florida

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