Merry Christmas from The Future Forward 2010

A Future Gay Soap Opera?

This is something that has been in my head for a very long time.

Two days ago, I watched a full one hour episode of The Young and the Restless. I wanted to watch this phenomenon that most women, lesbians, and gay men are into. In the beginning, I really wasn't a fan of soap operas. I began asking people "How can you keep up with over a thousand episodes?"

Soap operas are daily shows. It's not like waiting next week to watch the new episode of Law and Order. If you want to watch a new episode, wake up the next day and it's on. I remember running into a woman who is a fan of this show. This woman knew what happened in episode seven thousand to the present episode. I'm sure it will reach episode ten thousand before the next decade.

After watching this show, I immediately became addicted to it. I just became part of that group of gay men who love soap operas. This show will give me an excuse to wake up every day at 9:00 AM. It's suspenseful, romantic, comedic, the perfect ingredients for a good show. I might add another soap opera to my list, but I just want to get used to this show first.

While watching this show, I began to think about our community back on television. Right now, the only couple I see on a soap opera is Luke and Noah from As The World Turns.

Their stories are amazing, but it's time to branch out. It's been more than a year now with these two, and As The World Turns is about to be canceled in just a few months. After watching these soap operas along with characters like them, it got me thinking. There should be a future soap opera just surrounding gay characters.

Out of all the shows people are dieing to watch, the gay community contains a large percentage of it. Whenever I walk past a group of people who just watched an old episode of Noah's Arc, Queer As Folk, and The L Word, they continue to talk about it, and even express their own ideas for new episodes. It's like a clock froze in their head and they can never forget. That's how much of a fan they are.

Which is why I suggest they should create a gay soap opera on television or online. We'll need to call Dwight Allen O' Neal (Christopher's Street), Maurice Jamal (The Ski Trip), Patrick Ian Polk (Noah's Arc), Ron Cowen (Queer As Folk), Ilene Chaiken (The L Word), or some newcomer and make this happen. We have to show a body of work that Showtime, Logo, SoapNet, NBC, and many more to make this happen.

All these ideas just gets me thinking.

Should there be a gay soap opera?

Zolra's Corner: Me and Black Cats

Everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely hate black cats. I'm sorry for all the black cat lovers, but I do. I am a 100% believer of the superstition. So I do believe in the one surrounding black cats. They say that if you let a black cat walk pasts you, it equals bad luck. Once I heard that, I have never let a black cat walk pasts me. Not only that, but a black cat bit me once. Ever since a couple of bad luck incidents when I was kid, I have never played with the superstition since.

I have a done alot of things that leads to bad luck. All of them have been accidents. I accidentally broken a mirror. I accidentally dropped salt. I walked under a few ladders. Childhood was not only the decade of depression. It was also the decade of accidents.

But it looks like life has ways to play with my head. Whenever I'm walking to wherever I gotta go, I always walk through this neighborhood full of amazing people. I have never people so nice than in that neighborhood. My mentor even lives around there. It feels great. However, a few blocks away is a location that I like to call "The Cat Corner." It's a corner where mostly black cats are living in. Because of that, you never know where the cats in the neighborhood. They don't just lay in that corner all day and night. They walk around the neighborhood while trying to avoid humans.

Every time I walk around there, I see a black cat underneath a car or running up ahead of me. However, they have never walked past me. I make sure of that. I don't know what to do. No matter where I go now, I always see a black cat. Looks like I have two choices.
1. Start walking in a different neighborhood so that there will be a less amount of black cats around there.
2. Blow up that corner and the black cats with it.

Lol. It's so hard to decide.

Zolra 

Zolra's Corner: The Dog That Loves Water

On my way to the center for another day of volunteering, I saw one of the craziest things I have ever seen involving a dog. A block before the center is this park that most people go to hang out and let their dogs play around. It looks like a feel good park. My dog cannot walk past one without barking at them two seconds later. At this park, dogs are having so much fun with each other, even though they are possibly total strangers. When I'm walking past the park, I see a few familiar faces. My guess is some of them live in the neighborhood around that park.

On this particular day, I saw one of the dog owners ready to bathe his dog. Two seconds after seeing the hose, the dog sat down and rolled over on it's back. The owner then turned the hose on and the dog was having a good time in the water. It moved around on it's back with it's tongue pointing out. When the water was aimed at it's mouth, it was chopping on it like steak. It was looking at the perfect bath for dogs.

The whole time I was looking at it, I was so shocked. When it comes to water, aren't dogs usually like this?

My dog doesn't react like, but you know what I'm talking about. He's usually calm around water when it's time to take a bath. However, when it's time to get out, he is out like Sonic the Hedgehog. I guess there are some who are addicted to water unlike the some who are absolutely petrified of water. For me, I just want all dogs to be like this one. This one doesn't let water scare him. He is loving life.

Zolra's Corner: How Do You Handle Being A Public Person?

Ever since I decided to make my life an open book, I began to think about public relationships. When it comes to a couple being very public about their lives, it's very hard to find. Nowadays, couples are so private, it sometimes feel like you have to glue yourself to the wall, and still hear nothing. But for some couples that are not afraid to talk about their lives to others, I wonder if they can handle it.

Kendra and Hank Baskett are a good example. Now that the second season of Kendra has finally aired, I am happily enjoying this couple that are not afraid to be public with their life. I can't wait to see how Kendra handles motherhood. In the beginning, I knew that Kendra could handle the cameras since she did The Girls Next Door. But I just wondered how Hank dealt with it. I haven't seen a lot of athletes do reality shows before.

Hank is handling the camera like a true person. I applaud him for that. Having cameras in your face everyday is not easy at all if you think it is. I think Hank handles it very well.

This couple is good example of a public couple. Their in the spotlight everyday and their not letting people get in their ear. But I wonder how a single person handles it. A person who is not afraid of being a open book. A person who talks about 90% of his/her life. I guess it's all about how to balance. However, you can't let anyone get in your ear if you decide to a public figure professionally and personally.

Zolra's Corner: Sarah Palin's Been Rogued Again

I have never laughed this much since watching constant episodes of The Golden Girls. I started watching the show two weeks ago for the first time in my life. Yes, I have never watched the The Golden Girls until the age of eighteen. If you don't like it, sue me!!!

Sarah Palin has been in the news more than most politicians. Except for Barack Obama, she is the one person that appears on CNN every time I flip to the channel.

First of all, I'm not going to make any judgment towards this woman. I think she is great at what she does. I have watched from once she first started working for John McCain to when she appeared on Oprah.

However, I will say I am not going to comment on her actions like most people in the world. Judgment and comment are two different things. Just because someone makes some mistakes doesn't mean we shouldn't guess what their lifestyle is like. That is never a good thing. Because of that, I love Sarah Palin at what she does, but that doesn't mean I'm going to comment on her current actions.

There has been so many things going on with Sarah Palin in the past two years since the election she was involved in. In the middle of the election, the most funniest incident that has ever happened related to her was Tina Fey's Emmy Award winning portrayal of her on Saturday Night Live again. I am a huge fan of Tina Fey and she did an amazing performance.


First, she turned as governor of Alaska. Her daughter Bristol Palin gotten pregnant at age sixteen. Levi Johnston, the baby daddy, posed for Playgirl, which is now an online magazine. Then she released her book Going Rogue. The revealing book became a #1 New York Times bestseller, and it showed us a side of Ms. Palin that we have never seen before. People are still wondering what is truth and fiction in this book, but once again, no judgment.

Then she accepted the offer of becoming a commentator of the most critical show I have ever watched and will never watch for the rest of my life. She joined Fox News. In the beginning, I wondered how was this offer put on her table. But then again, I remembered the position: commentator. Then upon reflection, I thought to myself "She always comments on something every time I see her. So this should be a good position."

If it was me, I would take that offer. If I got offered to be paid for my comments on the news, I would be sleeping in the studio the day before my first day on the job. Then again, I hate the show. So if I got the job, I will deliver my point of view, and my limo will be outside of the studio quickly because I would rather not get critical behind the scenes. You never know what happens when the camera turn off.

But just when you think there isn't anything else to humiliate this woman with, I was a club when I saw this video. Once I saw this thing, I was literally on the floor laughing. Other men was looking at me like I was psychotic, but the video was hilarious.

Dorothy Bishop (Sarah) and Gregory Uliasz (Levi) Vogue parody
Directed by Francis Legge
Parody lyrics by James Jorden and Dorothy Bishop

Zolra's Corner: When Was The Last Time A Female Proposed?

Some people are shocked that I come up with most of my topics from movies like romantic comedies. I guess romantic comedies are not at the top of their list of favorite movie genres. I love romantic comedies. The inspirations flow when I watch a movie like that.

Just a few minutes ago, I remembered watching one of my favorite romantic comedies The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. But it wasn't until the romantic comedy Leap Year, starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode came out that this question came into my head.

When the last time a female proposed?

The Proposal is a story of win Sandra Bullock's character Margaret forces Ryan Reynold's character Andrew to marry her in order to keep her from getting deported back to Canada. Aside from how the situation was handled, I remembered when Andrew asked Margaret to proposed the right way. It was the first time on screen that I ever see a female propose to a man.

Leap Year tells the story of Anna (Amy Adams), who travels to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) on February 29, leap year, because according to Irish tradition, a woman can propose to a man on February 29 during a leap year.

Just watching me makes me start thinking. I need to see this happen in real life. I know this happens alot, but I want to see a female propose through my very eyes.

Zolra's Corner: Life Is Very Complicated

After my second day of filming my fifth movie, I finally got to the chance to see the romantic comedy It's Complicated. For most people that know me, I am a huge fan of romantic comedies. Through my eyes, they are the best movies ever made.

Due to my hard work, I wasn't able to see the movie the day it premiered. I thought theaters were closed on Christmas. But I guess some of them stay open. I finally managed to see the movie a month later after it premiered. Good thing I did because I had an amazing night watching the movie.

The movie centers around two people Jane (Meryl Streep) and her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin). Jane owns a successful bakery in Santa Barbara, California. Jake is a successful attorney.

After ten years of separation and three grown kids, things look peaceful now between the two of them. They can look at each other and not be upset about the divorce. Jake has married a much younger woman named Agness (Lake Bell) who has a son. So it appears that Jane doesn't have to worry about anything between the two of them.

Then the tables turn when they attend their son's college graduation in New York. After alot of partying, dancing, and drinking, Jane and Jake accidentally sleep together in their hotel room. The affair brings back memories through Jake's head while Jane feels bad for sleeping with him. Part of Jane knows it is wrong, since Jake and Agness are still married and trying to have a baby; the other part of Jane relishes in being "the other woman" and continues the affair with Jake in Santa Barbara. Jake is just enjoying the clandestine sex and doesn't show much interest in Jane's growth as a person. So they decided to continue on with this affair, keeping it a secret from everyone, including the kids.

But during this time, a spark begins to light between Jane and her architect Adam (Steve Martin), who was hired to remodel her house. Adam is just went through a divorce. This evens out the field between the two of them.

What becomes of the outcome of the movie? You'll have to see the movie to find out.

As for my review. This is one of the best romantic comedies of the year. It is a feel good movie. It makes you think of your past relationships and wonder if that spark is still there. Then once you figure it out. Then you'll know if it's alright to try again or if it's time to move on.

Zolra's Corner: I'mma Be The Multitaxing Guy For My LGBT Family

Recently, I began to rethink my life so far now that I am making huge decisions in my life. Saturday night, I'm performing stand up comedy for the first time ever. I began to reflect on my past life. Even though it's hard thinking about some parts of my life, my life was never 100% depression. The one thing I remember doing years ago that really made me happy was when I created Zolra's Corner, my talk show on Youtube.

Around that time, I reached a point in my life where I started taking care of myself. I started making my own money by writing articles for different websites. I was also trying to be a Youtube partner, even though I knew it wasn't going to happen due to the fact that my show had low ratings. The minute I started that talk show, everything changed.

I wanted to write more than books. I said I want to do late night television one day. My favorite late night show is Chelsea Lately. The moment I began watching it, I began to say "I want to do that type of talk show."

Due to my scheduling and financial situations, I'm unable to make videos. But when I get everything together, I promise I'll bring Zolra's Corner back to the media. But it'll be called Zolra Nightly instead. Consider it an adaptation of my blog of the same name. I'm doing to my best to maintain my blog, but my mind goes in so many directions, the blog suffers from confusion.

Then I started thinking about what type of person I should be. Not just for me, but for my entire LGBT family. I don't want to be a person that falls in a category of other LGBT figures. I want to be in a position that has never been filled. That's when I chose. I want to be the LGBT multitaxing man. I love to laugh. I love romantic comedies, thrillers, mystery, and drama films. I can come up with my own positive jokes in a quick second. Then the next day will be a serious topic to write about. No matter what situation I'm in, I do my best not to let it get to me. I just laugh it out days later, depending on the situation. But then again, if you really push a button, I will beat your brains to a pulp.

Don't get me wrong! My favorite show of all time is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. I watch it more than Cougar Town and Modern Family, but venturing out in different fields is an everyday thing in my life.

I look at the people who has inspired me like B.Scott, Xem Van Adams, Darryl Stephens, Bry'Nt, Nathan "Seven" Scott, and Dwight Allen O'Neal. They all branching out in different fields. But I haven't seen someone do all of it at once. So I thought it was best to fill that void.

Once I said I wanted to be that person, my life began to clear up. I have a focus and everything about me is comfortable doing it.

Zolra's Corner: Web Series Are Taking Over

Hello everyone. It is so good to be back. After turning into a computer addict, I can't help but notice one thing. Online web series are spreading like wild fire. Everywhere I go, I discovered new web series that has just been created.

I am currently working on a few screenplays that are going to be turned into movies real soon. However, web series are in my mind nonstop. So if you are a fan of web series, you will love these shows. These are my top five favorite web series.

1. Drama Queenz

Drama Queenz is about three struggling actors named Jeremiah, Davis, and Preston living their lives in New York. While going through the journey of becoming the best, they begin to balance career with the mates and friends in their lives. Below is Season 2 Episode 1


2. No Strings Attached
No Strings Attached is about two characters named Andy and Claire. Andy is looking for Mr. Right and Claire doesnt believe in monogamy. After meeting Justin at a dating place, Andy hopes he's the one he's meant to be with. Whereas, Claire gets caught up between Ethan and Jonathan. A web series about love and unconventional relationships. Below is Season 1 Episode 1


3. In The Moment

In The Moment is about starting an open, honest conversation among gay guys in the Los Angeles area about these types of decisions. Below is Season 1 Episode 8.

4. Anacostia

Anacostia follows the lives of four friends as they navigate through Love, Deceit, Betrayal, Sex and Death with a season finale that will leave your mouths open. I have seen the season finale, and it is heartbreaking. But you gotta start from the beginning too.

Anacostia Episode One from Frank Jackson on Vimeo.

5. Gig
Gig offers a behind-the-scenes look into a Los Angeles-based advertising agency, where viewers participate in month-long campaigns for real brands. Although the audience has multiple chances to participate in the series, the greatest prize is to star in each months commercial. Toward the end of every campaign, viewers are asked to upload video responses auditioning for the role by reading provided scripts (available for download off of the channel page). The person chosen will be flown out to Hollywood to shoot their commercial and appear in an episode of gig!

For me, Gig is kind of like a online reality show. But I seriously don't know if it's fiction or reality. What do you think? Watch all the episodes before you suggest.


6. Gay's Anatomy

Gay's Anatomy is a show about three young urologists who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Mark, Marc and Jim are competing to get on top at the hospital. But when things get personal, will a passion for prostates and an instinct for the male anatomy be enough?


7. The Guild

The Guild is an award-winning online sitcom about the lives of an online guild "The Knights of Good", with each webisode 3–8 minutes long. The first episode was posted July 27, 2007. It is broadcast on The Guild's official website, on iTunes and Zune Marketplace as a podcast, effinfunny.com and YouTube, and is available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. The show follows the life of Codex, the healer of The Knights of Good, who attempts to lead a normal life after one of her guildmates shows up on her doorstep.

Zolra's Corner: My Responsibility For My LGBT Family

Today's column is going to be much deeper than any other column I've ever written. Right after watching this video on Youtube, everything I wanted to talk about tonight started flowing. Watching this video made me think about my LGBT family.


Months ago, I have made two important decisions in my life regarding the LGBT community, I might as well speak about this. Plus, I'm writing a book about my life. So talking about this wouldn't be a problem at all.

The first decision I've made was to make my life an open book. Many people are fond of my real life stories, I remember laying in the bed one night, telling myself "It's time to stop hiding." I was hiding my life for a reason. My life has been crazy from the start.

My entire journey of self acceptance regarding my sexuality since the age of two. I grew up with an abusive stepfather physically when I was a kid, and then emotionally and mentally when I was a teenager. My mother has never been the person to admit that she was wrong in many ways. It was her way or an attitude was coming in your direction. Then she became emotionally abusive once I entered my teen years.

My four years of high school was like World War III in record breaking time. Going through relationships, especially with "bad boys" that I will never forget. A paternity test secret. Then how I started taking back control of my life piece by piece. This journey of mine is crazy and it's just starting.

Then the second choice I've made was to be sort of a role model for boys and girls around my age group that are still struggling with their sexuality. I'm eighteen years old, and it's very rare that a boy around my age has fully accepted himself as a gay man, and is doing everything he wants to do in life. That's an important decision that I still intend to keep.

Reading this might make you think I want to have a Zolra Caston reality show. I have to be honest. If my friends or anyone else offered me to do a reality show about my life, I will take the offer without second guessing myself. I want to have a reality show. I want to do talk shows. I want to act, model, write (books, poems, magazines, newspapers, tv and film scripts), spokesman. Since I'm a sports junkie, I would love to do something like Sports Center too.

My friends are always telling me to stick to a specific field of work. Sadly, it just never works out. I'm sorry. Since the beginning of my life, I have never been a boxed person. I always wanted to be involved in multiple projects. This is me and I'm afraid it's not going to change.

I'm sure most people are going to start calling me the Maya Angelou of the LGBT community or the black Augusten Burroughs. I will be surprised if someone actually tell me that.

I know it my appear to be a risky thing. Letting the world know 90% of the things going on in your life. What if you mess up? You're supposed to be positive to them. There is only answer I can give to that question. I don't intend on being positive or negative to everyone. The only thing I count on being for the rest of my life is human.

I hope I wrote this post as honest as I could.

Zolra's Corner: The Hormal Pleasure

After pleasuring myself for the fourth time in one night, I began to pay attention to the LGBT community and their sex lives. When sexually transmitted diseases were spreading like wildfire in the last decade alone, we have to keep ourselves protective. I haven't been in a relationship since June 2009. So I haven't had sex in a while.

I am not the kind of person that goes to sex parties. I have nothing against sex parties, but I don't picture myself going to one. It's hard at times to not have sex, but I am handling it. One is food. I have a fast metabolism that is making me stay at 120 pounds. So I can eat 4 lemon cakes and still be 120 pounds.

Since I am discussing pleasure, I want to talk about sexual gay relationships. Ever since my blog Zolra's Weblog got that sex column on it, I cannot stop thinking about it. In the gay community, I can't help but notice that homosexual couples are having more sex than heterosexual couples. Every time I walk around an area that is mostly populated with gay people, one couple is either grabbing onto their mate's back sides or showing a lot of PDA.

I remember watching this lesbian couple on television. According to them, they lose weight by having lots of sex. As for men, it's pretty obvious that their having lots of sex. When two male hormones connect, you have a combustion. It's actions like this that makes me worry about future relationships. Lately, there are mostly hookups than dating. Meeting a man with commitment material appears to be harder than expected. After noticing these actions it got me thinking.

When it comes to same sex relationships, which one comes first. The relationship or the sex?

Zolra's Corner: The Teen Wedding Ring

My blog Zolra Nightly is all about talking, debating, and commenting on situations going on in everyday life, mostly around the gay community. I can't deny that a part of me is a commentator. Whenever or wherever there is something that I agree and disagree with, I can't help but comment on the subject.

Today I wanted to talk about my best friend. I'll call him Roller (because his life kind of feels like a roller coaster). Roller and I have been best friends for five years now. We don't talk much since graduation, but we keep in contact through emails.

Roller was also my first boyfriend, and I was Roller's first too. While still going through accepting me as a gay male through high school, he came into my life unexpectedly. Every time I look back, I began to feel like we rushed into the relationship too quickly. We became friends on a Thursday, called each other nonstop on the weekends, and became a couple on Monday. I think if we took it slow, I'm sure it would've ended up differently.

Before I knew it, our relationship was 4 years of breakups, makeups, arguing, mental problems, and dating other people. That relationship was something I would never forget. If we ever thought of dating again, I know things would be much better. We went through things that adults are going through now.

That's why when people talk to me about their relationships, I completely understand them. Roller and I were the embodiment of a real relationship. Many people thought I made a big mistake dating that boy. They are sadly mistaken. No one knew Roller the way I did. There are some things about him that only I know, and he hasn't told any of his friends yet.

One night, my protection towards Roller came back. I respect his decisions no matter what, but some of his choices makes me worry about him a lot. Roller is an independent man, but he has a co-dependency problem when it comes to relationships. After he gets out of one, I see him with another one immediately. Every time we broke up, I will be single for months because of the healing process, but I see him with another man sooner than I expected.

That night, he told me that he was in a relationship. Through his eyes, he's fall for this guy. Love is in the air. I was happy when he said that, but my smile turned into a frown after the next sentence came out of his mouth. He's eighteen years old about thinking about marrying his boyfriend.

Nowadays, people are against teens getting married. The world is for them to explore. They have all the time to settle down. Matter of fact, 20s are supposed to be the decade of having fun and getting your career together. Yet, there are some teens whom are wise and responsible enough to settle down, and gets married. After hearing the two perspectives, it got me thinking.

Can teens get married if they are in the right state of mind and independence to do so?

Zolra's Corner: Accept Yourself While You're Still Young

Hello everyone. I'm sure everyone is aware of my absence last week. Don't worry, I'm not leaving my family. So can ya'll do me a favor and stop sending me emails about my absense. It's just one day. I'm not dead, nor getting a reality show. I spend my one week hiatus focusing on a serious topic that I wanted to put in my column. It's something that I feel is the right thing to do.

As I start to change a few thing on my blog, an idea struck my head like lightning. I am 18 years old, but work like a 25 year old. Most people are shocked at how my work ethic is. Not only that, but I am comfortable with who I am. If anyone asks me if I'm gay, I'm fine with that. I've got nothing to hide. You don't have to assume. Just ask me nicely.

Because of the fact that I am so young and becoming successful very swiftly, I feel like I have a responsibility for the younger audience in the LGBT community. Many people around my age are dealing with nonacceptance from family and friends. All this homophobia and criticism around them are starting to crush them like poison that can spread across the body in the blink of an eye.

For all the young ones out there, be comfortable with who you are. Only one person controls you're life and that's you. Take control and write your own story. Now that you're reaching adulthood, you are becoming 100% independent. At this time, focus on your life.

I love and accept who I am. No one forced me to be this. I have had feelings for guys since I was 2 years old. At times, I denied it. But as the years gone by, I realize this is who I am. When people see me doing what I've always wanted to do at 18 years of age, they imagine what I'll be like when I'm 25. Life is something. All we can do is accept it for what it is. A balance between positive and negative.

Surround yourself with people that are going to influence you to a better future. For me, it's great feeling to talk to people who i know is going to inspire me everyday. My friends Nathan "Seven" Scott and Dwight Allen O'Neal are one of the bests. I can speak and chat with them, knowing that I am not alone. I am not the only homosexual being on the planet. This is something that has been going on for years.

So for all the young ones that are still going through this, just know that we've been there. We've experienced it. We know what it feels like. Don't even think of yourself as an outside. Think of yourself as a human being just like everybody else.

I hope I spread a positive message. The young ones are the future.

Zolra's Corner- Reality Hell: Career Passion vs. Career Money

Last month, I created a column for OpenSalon.com called "Reality Hell." In this column, I am talking about things going on in real life. So I decided to bring one of my posts here because these are serious subjects that need to be addressed.

After years of loving, studying, testing, and pursuing what you want to do in life, you are finally at the point where your career is in the palm of your hands. Every time you wake up in the morning, you are off to a job that you always wanted to do. You put all the intelligence, passion, and sweat into those hours you've spent at your job. Then once you come back home, you feel like you brought home the bacon, even though it is time for dinner. No matter what the payment is, you are excited to do what you want to do.

This is an example of career passion. This is when someone is so passionate about their career, they will do it no matter what the cost of the job. As long as you work hard, your compensation will increase. It can also be included in the term "Nonpaid to Paid." Not only that, but it can also follow the quote "It's a blessing to do what you want to do, and it's a miracle that you get paid to do it."

Apart from career passion, there is one thing that many people can't believe is happening. Some people have experiencd these things and couldn't believe that they've gone through this. When you're at a point in your life where you've chosen your career, some people choose a certain career simply because of it's high compensation.

One look at it, and some are thinking "During the first year, I can get paid this much? I'll take it."

In the beginning, it appears to be the job that was meant for you. You worked hard to get into this position, and not that you're here, it's time to start your life. Not a day goes by when I heard that same sentence.

Then suddenly, second thoughts about your career starts popping up in your head. You finally realized that even though it's a great job, your heart is not in it. You finally quit and go out to pursue when you're passionate about.

It's a situation like this that brings up a similar question. Are we so consumed by money, we replace our passion to get close to a piece of paper.

For some, if you continue to work hard at what you always want to do, you will be satisfied for any amount of money given to you.

Zolra's Corner: The Good Things About Journaling

One day, I began to remember my terrible childhood. Most things I can't even tell you in one blog post. If I had to tell you guys all at once, I will have to write a book about it instead of one blog post. The one thing that always cleared my head was journaling. There are some people that still call it diaries, but I call it a journal. When I was writing my feelings down, I was also drawing sketches in it. It was like writing my own book with pictures in it.

At the end of every night journaling, I felt strong enough to survive the next day. Because of it, I decided to share to you guys what are the good things about journaling. It's not just about writing a burn book. There's more to that.

Journaling came into our lives for many reasons. One way people journal is to help get rid of their depression. Sometimes, life brings us down in a way that we never felt before. We hold in so much sadness, the one decision we choose is writing. Once you start writing, you can feel your sadness going away as you continue to write one word at a time. Sometimes, you might start crying. Even if you do, keep on writing till you let everything out. Then once you finish writing that entry, I guarantee that you will feel a lot better. Even if the entry is long (probably five pages or more), the good thing about it is that you let everything out.

Another reason why people journal is to help get rid of anger. Holding anger inside is actually worse than holding in sadness. When it comes to holding anger, you don't know when you are going to let it out. You might even aim it to the wrong person. Journaling is considered a great way to relinquish your anger.

In some ways, writing about your daily life can be a part of journaling. Sometimes, you might wanna look back at your life to see how things have changed since then. That's an amazing way to do it. As long as it is used for good reasons only. In the movie Mean Girls, they created this thing called "The Burn Book". You don't want to create something like that.

If journaling is going to be a part of your life, make sure that you are using it for good reasons only. Turn negative into a positive. And remember to keep it to yourself. Unless you have friends that you know so well, you can trust them no matter what, I recommend you keep your journal to yourself.

Zolra's Corner: My First December Book Selection Chosen

This is something I did on my blog. But I took the liberty of bringing it to my blog. I want to make sure books is a good part of our lives.

Alright everyone. It's time to keep you guys into reading. The book I have chosen is something that influenced me years ago. I am even friends with the authors. He's kind of like a mentor to me. Whenever I need someone to give me comfort, I go to him. I don't take him for granted. I am just so happy that I have an amazing friend like him. The other author is an award winning cartoonist. Ever since I met him in Las Vegas, we became close. Because of this, I am so happy to choose this book.

The book is called The Beginner's Guide to Community Based Arts by Matt Sckwartzman and Keith Knight. Every chapter is breathtaking. Each story has left me moved and dieing to read more.

This tells the story of real life people using the performing arts to help others. The performing arts is a large portion of my life. I don't think I can last a day without doing something in the performing arts, whether it's acting, modeling, writing, etc.

Not only that, but the arts has caused a large effect in the community. You know how you go to the theaters to watch a movie that shockingly relates to your real life. That's what the performing arts do. Tell great stories.

Pick up your own copy of this book if you want to be inspired.

Matt Sckwartzman is a great person. He is the creator of the program "Creative Forces" in New Orleans. I was a part of the program for four years, and I loved every minute of it. If you're wondering where I am, I'm in the middle with my hand up.

Keith Knight is amazing in his own way. He's a award winning cartoonist, well known for his comic strips The K Chronicles, (Th)ink, and The Knight Life. The comic strips has expanded to newspapers, websites, and magazines. If you want to know more about him, look at this video that was made about him.

I hope you guys enjoy the book.

Zolra's Corner: A True Antagonist Has Returned

For fans of the original Melrose Place, you are well aware that they have created a 2009 remake of the hit television series. The original series was created by Darren Star, who is best known for creating shows like Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, and Sex and the City. It was also executive produced by the legendary producer Aaron Spelling.

It's been close to a month now since the show aired. I was so excited to see characters from the original series return, but I was always wondering "Where is she?" There were rumors that this lady wasn't thinking about returning. But the stories were completely false after pictures of her on the set of Melrose Place surfaced on the internet. I am happy that a true antagonist has returned. The girl I am talking about is Amanda Woodward, portrayed by Heather Locklear.

It's been two episodes now, and Amanda has not failed me at all. The current writers of the show has definitely been watching the previous Melrose Place. Amanda has grown up, but she is still the same. Only this time, her status as a boss has reached another level.

It was probably because of Amanda why I have been attracted to antagonist roles. For most people that know me, they know writing is my life. I want to be mostly remembered as a writer, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to have my eyes glued to my laptop for the rest of my life. I want to act, model, host, promote, and write.

Acting is more like #2 on my list of lifetime careers. When I first told people that I want to be an actor, they automatically thought that I should try out for the role of the best friend because of my personality and the way I look. They say "You are more like the person I see on screen as the best friend that comes up with the funniest things."

To be honest, I thought so too. I grew up watching sitcoms and romantic comedies. So I thought I would go for the funny roles. But then my realization came when I landed a role in my first movie that is coming out soon called "My Friend, Oscar".

When I was at the audition, I obviously auditioned for the role of the best friend. Then after I went through that reading, the producer told me "Can you read this role please?" I read through it first. It was the role of the bully. At first, I was instantly shocked. There was no way I wanted to have that role. Two months later, I got the part. During the filming of the movie, I starting getting into my dark side. When they were done, they were like "You have a talent for these kinds of roles."

Ever since then, I have been auditioning for antagonist roles. Not because I was suggested to do something like, but I want to have these roles. I looked carefully at all the movies I've watching, and realized that I was always more into the antagonist than the protagonist. So I mostly give thanks to the entire cast and crew (especially the writers and Heather Locklear) for creating Amanda Woodward. Below is a video of the first episode of Amanda's return to Melrose Place.

If anyone relates to my story, feel free to comment.

Zolra's Corner: My Interview With Dextar G

This week, I got the pleasure of connecting with professional photographer Bryant Simms, but everyone knows him as Dextar - The People's Photographer. I told him before to not hold anything back. And trust me, he didn't hold anything back.

Hello Dextar. How is life treating you so far?
What the f**k kind of question is that? *giggle* I'm am blessed and Highly favored by God. I have talent, a warm heart, and I'm easy on the eyes. Most people would be happy with just 1 of the three, so I guess Life is treating me well.

OK!
Zolra, I have a caustic sense of humor. Don't get scared.

Don't worry. I can tell just by looking at your pictures. Do you do anything else besides photography? Any hobbies or anything?
Hmmm... Hobbies. Do Drugs count as a hobby? no? well.. I enjoy walking, Im a freak for walking long distances. Reading junk Sci fi on my blackberry (Warhammer 40k is my shyt). Besides those two thing, I like to eat for fun. Eating is one of my favorite things. Seriously. Just put something in my mouth and watch me smile.


Lol. I see you're weren't kidding about the sense of humor. Have you always acted like this?

I try not to take myself too seriously. Too often artits pontificate on how interesting they are or how life altering their art is. I prefer to live. Maybe that's why I choose to shoot life as it happens, and not how I'd like it to be.