Trials of a Budding Author

Life Lessons from Don Corleone

I watch 'The Godfather Trilogy' at least twice per year; I simply love the artistry; the writing, acting, directing, lighting...it all comes together masterfully. Even the 3rd film, agreeably the weakest of the three, is a stunning masterpiece. Watching them back to back over the course of a few evenings gives it a very new perspective and I find myself learning more and more each time from it.

Life lessons from a movie? You might ask? Sure! You just have to be open to the meaning of it! Here are a few of the life lessons I have learned:

Random ThoughtsRobert SiegerFebruary 1, 2013The Godfather Comments

Ugh!

Well - I took nearly a week off from writing due to a very large project and business push! So, for my readers that have stayed loyal and kept coming back to see if anything was posted, I thank you very much and apologize!

To my new readers, I apologize as well, but hopefully you have all enjoyed the new content and will continue to enjoy the content! I have a couple of movie reviews to write, some new DVD releases to write about and a few articles percolating! So please be sure and stop back in! I appreciate the support!

ProcessRobert SiegerJanuary 28, 2013Comment

Enjoy the Present! It's a Gift!

There are days that we all dwell on the past - we think of things we could have had, things we had and lost and things we should have had (or so we thought). These are the thoughts that weigh us down, that cloud the present and get in the way of the future.

I struggle with this every day - some days being better than others; but I know it is something that nearly everyone deals with. It is that very thing that is giving me severe writers block at the moment; that focus on the past and of things lost.

Positive NotesRobert SiegerJanuary 18, 2013Comment

Everything Does Happen For A Reason

" I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of things. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even if some things are terrible or didn't want to happen. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it." - Unknown

Positive NotesRobert SiegerJanuary 16, 2013Fate, Love, ReasonComment

Give Up On The Resolutions Yet? Tips To Keep Going!

Well, we are 15 days into 2013 and I am betting that a good number of us have already given up on a resolution or two! I am here to tell you, don't give up yet and even if you have slipped, you can get right back yup on that resolution horse and ride it off into 2014! Here are some tips that I have learned over the years of attempting to make resolution that stick:

Robert SiegerJanuary 15, 2013New Year ResolutionsComment

Politically Incorrect - I'm OK With Global Warming!

It's January 11th in Chicago and the temperature has just hit a high of 52 on it's way to 60! 60! It's January! 60!

Having grown up in Chicago, with winters as brutal as one can imagine; 60 in January is a welcome respite from the usual winter doldrums. I actually drove around today with the windows open! If this is Global Warming, I think I am ok with it!

Random ThoughtsRobert SiegerJanuary 11, 2013Baby Its Cold Outside, Global Warming, Winter Comment

On Letting Go....

"You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles." - C. Joybell

We have all experienced some type of emotional pain at one time or the other. Whether it was the pain of losing a loved one, the pain of a break-up or the pain of a personal loss (such as a job loss), loss is a fact of life. While it is a fact of life, it does not have to be the weight the drags us down to depressing depths; it is how we deal with that loss that will bring us past it and on to a more positive way of life.

Positive NotesRobert SiegerJanuary 10, 2013Forgiveness, Letting GoComment

Embrace Change!

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror, I can take the next thing that comes along.' - Eleanor Roosevelt

There are many things that will occur throughout our lives that will either throw us into a tailspin or send us flying to new heights. Each comes with its own sets of challenges and each involves change.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 9, 2013Change, positive thoughtsComment

Pursue Your Dreams!

All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible. - T.E. Lawrence

I always wanted to be a writer when I grew up. As a Junior High student, my friends and I would produce comic books that I would write and others would illustrate.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 8, 2013 Comments

Mistakes - I've Made A Few...

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” ― Albert Einstein

I have made my fair share of mistakes; some would argue that I have made more than my fair share of mistakes; but for the sake of this post, let's just say I have made my fair share! I would guess that all of you, my very fine and appreciated readers, have made your fair share of mistakes as well. Some of you will recover nicely from them, others, maybe not so nicely.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 7, 2013Mistakes, moving on Comments

It's Rated 'R' For A Reason!

Maybe I am just finally getting older and as I age, I become more conservative. Maybe I just notice things more and I have a harder time shutting out some of the minutia from everything around me. I am not sure, but I do know this. An 'R' rated movie is rated 'R' for a reason.

The MPAA (The Motion Picture Association of America) defines the 'R' rating as follows:

R — Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian. An R-rated motion picture,

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 6, 2013R rated, children in theatersComment

Please don't call me a 'Pet Dad'!

It's funny, our American society has become obsessed with our pets. Whether you are a dog lover, cat lover, fish lover, bird lover or even a rodent lover; our obsession with our pets seems to have grown amazingly over the past several years. Now this may be due in large part to the pet industry itself; with such titans as Petsmart and Petco both vying for our wallets it is in their best marketing dollars interest to pump life into a growing obsession.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 5, 2013German Shepards, PetsComment

Get Rid of the Negativity

We all have this, people in our lives that we just don't understand. We don't understand why they do or say the things they do. Why they are so steeped in negativity. We try to be their friends or we try to be the best friend we can, yet in most cases, we are either stepped on or simply ignored and we are left wondering what we did wrong.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 4, 2013Negativity, positive vibesComment

Live With Passion!

"A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm.”

– Charles M. Schwab

"Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping… waiting… and though unwanted… unbidden… it will stir… open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us… guides us… passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love… the clarity of hatred… and the ecstasy of grief.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 3, 2013PasssionComment

Staying positive!

Well, it's now the second day of 2013 and I am very sure that many of us have already tucked away the slips of paper with our resolutions on them! Resolutions are a funny thing - they are filled with the best of intentions and we always look at them with inspired vim and vigor; yet for practical purposes, they always seem to fall on the wayside. Now, you may have one or two that might actually stick, if you try hard enough;

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 2, 2013positive thoughts, positive vibesComment

2013 - Welcome to a New Year of Opportunity!

The wonderful thing about a new year, besides the celebration, is the new opportunities that lay before you. It is a new year, a fresh start, the calendar begins again and really, so should we all! It's a time for a renewed sense of purpose, for refocusing our attention on the things that matter. We all make resolutions that we never follow-up on or we start off with the best of intentions but falter as time wears on. The new year gives us an opportunity to once more try to drive ourselves forward.

BloggingRobert SiegerJanuary 1, 20132013, OpportunityComment

2012 - A Wonderful Year!

It's funny, as I browse the various Facebook posts, tweets and blog postings from those I follow, they review 2012 as if it was the worst year ever, quotes from 'I can't wait for this year to be over' to 'Here's hoping that 2013 will be a better year' and more. I have to admit, in the past, I was one of those types that posted much of the same. And I almost did again this year - then I had a revelation this morning...

BloggingRobert SiegerDecember 31, 20122013, New YearComment

Commitment and not institutional

Committing to the process of writing - hell, committing to any process is tough! I spent most of my morning thinking about what the heck I was going to write about today. What is going to be interesting that I can write about that may make someone new read my writing. After all, lets face it, the only people who are really reading are family and friends (and perhaps not even them!). Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate their support, but I would like to build an audience beyond family and friends (who are probably getting sick of me!).

BloggingRobert SiegerDecember 30, 2012Comment

Rubbery legs!

Ouch! Getting back into the work-out grind can be especially tough - especially for those of us pushing 50.

Yes, I said that, pushing 50!

It's not so bad you know, I feel good and I have been having the time of my life lately. There is something about pushing 50 that seems exciting. I don't feel old, but I do feel a little wiser and I am starting to enjoy the smaller things in life a lot more.

BloggingRobert SiegerDecember 29, 201250, Aging, FacebookComment

Trying again!

Hello Dear Reader! I am trying this again - I have actually been doing pretty good with regular reviews and updates on the movie side of this - but very negligent as far as creative writing is concerned - so I am trying to get into the habit again and I am going to be a bit better!

What's that? I am a few days early for New Year Resolutions? Yeah, I guess I am, but better late than never and better early than not at all - right? I guess I am just getting tired of saying 'I am going to' and 'I will...tomorrow' or even worse,

Robert SiegerDecember 28, 2012 Comment