Author: Randy Slovacek

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“Call Me Carlye”

Carlye and I at a holiday party a few years ago

Today is the birthday of my best friend and the most beautiful person I know. Today is Carlye’s birthday.

There is so much to celebrate when I think of Carlye. Her laugh, her smile, her fortitude, her inspiration, her conviction – her life.

Carlye and husband David at their favorite place in the world

Happy happy birthday Carlye!  I wanted to write something that would reflect her spirit and beauty, both inside and out. So, in my best attempt to write in the style of my favorite poet, Maya Angelou, here goes:

“Call Me Carlye”

Imagine a newborn, big-eyed, brown, baby girl
Waiting to see her world.
 Waiting to receive a name.

Let’s call her Fannie Mae,

She’ll stay in this place.

No, let’s call her Bonnie Brown,
She’ll never leave this town.

Then the universe had an aha! moment,

and said,
Carlye.

Inspired by beautiful – beautiful woman, beautiful mind,
And a spirit for life.

The town laughed and said it was sure

This child was special, and sure to explore.

The universe whispered,
Carlye.
And a world leaned forward.

A grandmother, Mrs. Wilson, lifted her up
To show her to God,
And God said,
I’m going to show you a road to your future.

And in a land named Texas she began to see herself.
Someone said,
What’s your name?
She said, Carlye.

And, what do you do?
She said, I am being Carlye.

And then she stood tall.
She saw no one higher than herself,
And no one lower.

New York asked Carlye,
“Come, by the shining river and the beautiful city
Will you come here
And share your gifts and talent, Carlye?”

She said, “Yes.
And in doing so, I want to give voice to those in and around me,
To the voiceless. To the quiet. To the less sure.
Call me Carlye.”

Those around her began to know her and call her by her name.

Carlye.

And wherever she went, she created community.
Carlye.

And she said, Yes.

Yes.

Everyone who sat by her had a place to be.
Carlye.

And people listened to her
For more years than were actually there.
And she listened.

She said be strong,
be kind,
and call me Carlye.

I am Carlye.

Carlye.

Carlye.

Carlye.

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2012 Chippendales Calendar – available now!

Seriously, who doesn’t want something a bit fun and sexy to remind them what day it is?
If you can’t make it to the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, this is the next best thing.  The 2012 Chippendales calendar is out and available!  Whoo-hoo!  And don’t worry – the calendar is pretty PG-17.  Just bare chested, sexy guys – of every type and flavor.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
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Majority of New Jersey voters support marriage equality

From OnTopMag: A majority of New Jersey voters say gay marriage should be legal, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Friday.

Fifty-two percent of the 903 adults contacted by telephone (landline and cell phone) from October 6-9 said “same-sex marriage” should be legalized. Approval jumps up to 61 percent when the term “marriage equality” is substituted.

Opposed to the union are 39 percent when the term “same-sex marriage” is used. Opposition drops to 27 percent when the term is exchanged with “marriage equality.”

“Support for legalizing same-sex relations in New Jersey continues to be solid,” said poll Director David Redlawsk, a professor of political science at Rutgers University. “Young people are overwhelmingly in favor, though a majority of all age groups is supportive, except for those 65 and over. Whatever it is called, support for state recognition of same-sex marriage remains strong and most likely will grow over time.”

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Rick Perry supports repeal of NH marriage equality

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry, pandering to conservatives in New Hampshire, praised legislators in the state for working to repeal the state’s same-sex marriage law.

“As conservatives we believe in the sanctity of life. We believe in the sanctity of traditional marriage,” Perry said at the annual banquet for Cornerstone Action, a conservative advocacy group. “And I applaud those legislators in New Hampshire who are working to defend marriage as an institution between one man and one woman, realizing that children need to be raised in a loving home by a mother and a father.”

In June 2009, New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. A bill to repeal New Hampshire’s gay marriage law passed a House committee this week.

In August, Perry signed a pledge to support a constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

SRSLY. A candidate for public office campaigning for inequality.

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Olivia Newton-John conquers Rome Film Festival with new comedy

Translated from abc.es: The Australian actress Olivia Newton-John won the critical acclaim of the International Film Festival of Rome with her performance in the comedy “A Few Best Men”, where she plays a crazed mother-of-the-bride, fond of cocaine and alcohol, at the wedding of her daughter.

The Australian film, directed by Stephan Elliott, was presented out of competition this Friday and received applause from the audience after its screening on the third day of the event, which runs through Nov. 4.

Barbara (John Newton) is married to a wealthy Australian senator. After meeting the fiancé of his daughter Mia (Laura Brent), he instructs his wife to take charge of the ceremony to be held in a few days and which will be in the presence of Australian Parliament.

The groom (Xavier Samuel) of Mia, a Londoner who falls for the girl on a deserted island and decides to ask her to marry, returns to his hometown to report the news to his three best friends, who are responsible for turning the perfect wedding into a nest of problems and surreal situations.

“There is something crazy in this film and I wanted a change of scenery, so I seized the opportunity offered me Stephan Elliott,” Olivia said at a press conference, who was delighted with her new role.

However, she acknowledged that the character of Sandy in the musical “Grease”, with which gained fame for more than 23 years, will be with her forever.

“There are still many girls in the street who stop me and, obviously, none of them were born in 1978. I am very grateful to this character and I must say I deeply love Sandy” said the actress.

The Australian director, also present in Rome, joked about the famous film character “We wanted to kill “Sandy” and that’s why we have her character abusing drugs and alcohol,” he said.

Olivia Newton John explained that in those years, she starred in such films as “Grease” and “Xanadu,” starring roles suited to their age, and although she has a huge affection for them, she now looks for roles that are more serious, more suited to her age. “Although they have to be a little crazy,” he added with a laugh.

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Jonathan Groff returns to GLEE

Jonathan Groff is bringing Jesse St. James back to Glee later this season, but there’s a twist — and a juicy one at that: The student has now become the teacher!

At an event celebrating the show’s 300th musical performance on Wednesday, exec producer Ryan Murphy revealed that Groff will appear in multiple episodes as the coach of New Directions’ rival choir Vocal Adrenaline.

Murphy added that Glee Project runner-up Alex Newell would ” have many scenes” with Groff.
(via TVLine.com)