Breaking Dawn Convention

You knew it was coming.  Summit Entertainment and Creation Entertainment partnered up to host the Eclipse Convention in Los Angeles last June.  With Breaking Dawn: Part 1 around the corner, we've all been waiting to hear dates for the Breaking Dawn Convention.

And here it is - Twihards, mark your calendars for November 4-6, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Tickets aren't available for sale just yet - will keep you posted!! What I want to know is... will you be going??

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The Sunday Box

Here I go again. How many times do I have to tell these boys to pick their stuff up? Arms full of jump ropes, books, dinosaurs... and then it hit me.  I decided to resurrect The Sunday Box.

They won't be very happy when they get home from school today. *mischievous giggle* I can already hear how it's going to play out:

"Mom. Mo-ooom. Do you know where the Xbox controllers are?"

"Of course. They're in the Sunday Box."

"The Sunday Box?" An expressions of confusion is quickly replaced with wide-eyed distress as he realizes he'll have to wait until Sunday (*gasp* Sunday?!) to re-claim his prizes. "No, no, no - you don't understand. Mom! We have to-"

Which is where I'll try to hear him out, but will probably end up cutting him off to remind him, "This is why you want to pick up all your belongings and put them away."

You might want to hang around until Einsten, Mr. Varsity Hip-Hop Senior, comes home from Day 2 of school today to ask me...

"Mom? Have you seen my Beats by Dre headphones?"

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The Devil's Double

I have a confession to make.  Always on the lookout for deals and with me being a movie fREaK - I try to keep my eyes peeeeeeled for free advance screenings.

Being in San Diego has helped a ton - with so many different theatres, opportunities to win tickets fly by all over the place.  So when I got a chance to see a sneak preview of The Devil's Double - Hubz and I snuck out for a quick date.

If you haven't seen it yet - you'll want to add this one to your list.

***

Yanked out of the army and hand selected by the devil himself, Latif Yahia has no choice but to serve as the double for the psychotic, evil son of Saddam Hussein - Uday Hussein.

With no regard for anyone but himself and what fancies him at the moment, you never know what, or who, Uday is going to do next. Latif, a brave and honorable man - struggles in his own resolve to stand up for what he believes in, while trying to keep his family safe from this sadistic monster.

Dominic Cooper will almost have you believe that the two characters, Uday and Latif, are played by two different actors. His performance alone is reason enough to see "The Devil's Double" - and all along, when you cringe in your seat from the brutal physical and sexual violence onscreen, you'll remember that this is all based on the true story of Latif Yahia.

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DaVentures

It's almost unacceptable. Seriously? We're making changes, stat.

Born and raised in America's Finest City, you'd think we'd know all there is to know about San Diego. But it wasn't until after we moved to Visalia that we figured out just how much we had taken for granted.

Over the last five years, there wasn't anywhere to go to for "date" night besides a restaurant or a bar. The beach was a three-hour drive away and if I wanted a late night hit of french fries, I'd better make sure I stopped at Mickey D's before midnight or else I'd be SOL.

So... we learned to do other things while living the small town life.  The boys took to sports - baseball, basketball, football or water polo - and Joe took time out to coach. We became regulars at the library and I finally started to hit up the gym. We went on play dates with friends and I even got started on a running kick.

Which I think Hubz is thankful for, considering I haven't done a convention in over a year ;)

And you know how much kids love routines... Tuesday was movie night, Wednesday was church night, Thursday was date night and Friday was game night.

It didn't always work out perfectly, but hey - it was something to look forward to. Plus, it was a nice incentive to get them to stop arguing with me and get them into their nighttime baths :)

And now that we're back in San Diego, we're itching to tear up the town and check out new things. Our goal? To have a new adventure every weekend and try out something we'd never done before.

A Weekend DaVenture. Stay tuned - we can't wait to take you with us on all of our little trips!

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My First 5K - Spooky Sprint 2010

Are we friends on Facebook? FB has made it waaaaaay too easy for me to post lil' family tidbits that I'd normally blog about on here.

Like when my friend, Tiffany, and I decided to do a practice run? On the actual path for the 5K?  And ended up finishing an 8K run instead, accidentally?

Yeah. Um... I've only ever ran on the treadmill at the gym. Had NO idea how much distance 3.1 miles would cover, but we had a copy of the map and just kept a lookout for "Aviation Rd" so we'd know when to turn around.

Of course, it's too much to ask for a street sign here in Podunk. So... we kept on running. And running. And finally, after about 2.5 miles, we decided to turn around.  Only reason I figured out how far we ran is coz I looked it up on Google Maps when I finally got home!

***

This was on a Thursday, two days before the race.  When Saturday morning rolls around, it brings along a 70% chance of rain. Greeeeaaaaaat.  But I've come way too far to back out now.  It may be a race, but I had NO ambitions of winning or even finishing in the top half.  All I wanted to do was cross the finish line.

And hopefully, not be last. But hey - I'll take what I can get.  I've never been a runner and after 3 weeks of training, one can't be too picky.

So... here we are, standing under an umbrella before the race starts:

Dette, Jamie and Tiffany

Counting down

Home stretch - Mama and Numbnuts running beside us!

Me, trippin' out that I actually did it :)

After a quarter of a mile, I got a little surprise. Hubz piled all three boys in the car with him and Mama and drove down a quarter of the way to cheer us on. The police told him he couldn't park there, but changed their minds when he told them what he was up to.

I wish you could've seen the Little Shit. He had his hands in the air and hollered, exasperated, "Go FASTER!" *lol* Cracked me up :)

In the end, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest and I was praying, "Please, please, please don't let me fall over. Please let me just get to the finish line."

And I did. Never mind my goal of finishing in under 35 minutes. I finished my first ever 5K in less than 33.

32:54

I wonder if I'll be able to get under 30 minutes for my next one... Guess we'll see!

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Gonna Huff and Puff and Go for a Run

Four weeks ago, the idea of running a 5K just didn't seem likely.  I don't even walk from my front door to the mailbox - I'm the one who stops by on my way home, driving on the wrong side of the road, to pick up that lovely stack of junk mail and bills.

So when my friend, Jamie, brought it up one Kinder morning - I literally laughed out loud.

But then... the idea hung around wispily before it finally started to dig into my head. I've been frustrated with my workouts - or more so, with my lack of results.  I'd work out 4-5 times a week - each workout beginning with a half hour of strength training, followed up with 45-60 minutes of cardio.  Then I'd come home to top it all off with crunches or push-ups.

After 3 months of this rigorous schedule, how much weight have I lost? A whopping FIVE pounds.

"It's your calorie intake," you suggest. I purchased a kitchen scale to weigh my food, counted my calories even if I went out to eat. (The MyFitnessPal app on the Droid X makes counting calories SO easy!)  I averaged about 1,300 calories a day.

*sigh*

So, I figured now's a good time as any to change things up a bit. I stopped going to my RIPPED and Zumba classes and started hitting the treadmill.  On the first day - I was lucky to finish 3.1 miles in under 45 minutes.  But I kept going, and finally gave myself a goal:  To finish my first 5K in under 35 minutes.

I wasted a week mulling over the idea, which left me three weeks to train.  How did I do?


(To be continued...)

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2010 Los Angeles Twi-Tour

I could tell you how much fun I had at the latest Twilight Convention... but how about some pictures instead? ;)

~ Dette and the guys - Chaske Spencer, Alex Meraz and Kiowa Gordon ~

~ Dette and Chaske Spencer ~

~ Dette and Alex Meraz ~

~ Dette and Charlie Bewley ~

~ Dette and Tinsel Korey ~

~ Dette and Kiowa Gordon ~

***

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Not Your Average Vampire Fan

He thinks I'm off my rocker.

Hell - maybe I am. Doesn't get my thing with "Twilight," never mind that I've always been into vampires and werewolves, even before the world was introduced to Edward Cullen.  What about Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac... remember "Interview with the Vampire?" Or more recently, Lucian and Sonya in "UnderWorld: Rise of the Lycans."

Bill Nighy delivers an incredible performance as both Viktor in "Underworld" and Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean.  Loved POTC, and the Harry Potter series as well! Hubz skips out on those movies, or takes a $10 nap in the theatre. *scoffs*

He can't understand how I can be so enthralled with something, anything, that's "not real."  He just doesn't get it. This is a constant debate in our house.

But... a few nights ago, I tweeted that I'd be introducing him to Sookie and Bill in the "True Blood" series... Rented the first two episodes from Blockbuster, put the monsters to bed and pressed play.

*holds breath*

~ Image courtesy of True Blood Wiki ~

Normally, he falls asleep in the recliner once he's settled.  But not this time. *grins* I ended up getting the next DVD, and then the next one...

The last one was epi's 5-7, but my tired ass fell asleep. So guess who watched all 3 episodes by himself? In one sitting?

*bwahahaha!!*

Thank you, TrueBloodHBO, for helping bring Hubz into the light! Or should I say... into the darkness?? ;)

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Cougar Town Meets Farm Show

How'd you like to find this parked in front of your house?

 

  

  

 

They only make 28 of these every ten years.  The stereo is loud enough for everyone in the next neighborhood to hear. And those wheels are nicer than any I'll ever own. *lol* I wish you guys could see this ridiculous boat - we're going to have a pizza party "Bobby" style later tonight with the boys. ;)

So if you have an extra $120K just laying around somewhere, maybe you can come by and pick this up from our neighbors. *grins*

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Seasons Greetings!

Ever wonder what it's like with three rambunctious boys running around all the time?  On a good day - this says it all (*chuckles*):

~ Einstein (15), Numbnuts (8) and Little Shit (4) ~

It's New Year's Eve and our Christmas lights are still up.  With all the work Hubz and Einstein put into it, I'd be surprised if they took it down before the first of the year.  But it's worth it, though - the kids and the neighbors and even their visitors always stop out front to enjoy the view:

All things bright and beautiful

All creatures great and small

All things wise and wonderful

The Lord God made them all.

~Cecil Alexander

Wishing all of you a blessed holiday season

and a joyous and prosperous New Year!!

*** Psst!! To help celebrate the New Year, stay tuned for a special giveaway. More details to follow! ***

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New Sheriff in Town

Let me set it straight from the get-go:  It was Skinny Ass' idea to get a new kitty for the kids for Christmas.

In fact, both Hubz and Numbnuts had been canvassing the local SPCA for the last week.  The very same day we got back from San Francisco, he piled up the whole family into the car - again - to hit up the extension at the mall.

Turns out the SPCA also has animals available for adoption at PetSmart.

Where we spent no less than two hours meeting all the cats, seeing how well they play with each other (or not), seeing how they react to a dog.  Observing how they behave with the kids, and if they still enjoy socializing with all five of us packed in that little room.

If it were up to me, we might've brought home THREE cats that night.  But seeing as Hubz always knows how to put his foot down (*wink*), we only brought home two. *giggles*

Say hello to family pet members #4 and #5 - the new rugrats:

~ Nico (AKA Houdini), 7 months old ~

~ Zoe, 7 months old ~

Of course, I'm the biatch that won't let 'em up in the kitchen. So when I start hollering at them to get off my counters or the house plants, guess who comes over to back me up?

~ Samson at 42, recently promoted to Sheriff ~

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Naughty Secrets

Makes a mother wonder...

"Hmnnn... what could she be whispering into his ear? And WHERE is that hand going?"

But most importantly... "Which one of the ruddy monsters posed 'em like this?!"

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Interview with The Hillywood Show

Watching these ladies at the Twi-Tours... doing their thing... I am just in awe of how talented these two sisters are, and of their genuine and humble personalities. After the San Francisco Twi-Tour, we hooked up on Facebook, where they cheerily agreed to an interview. Can you imagine how stoked I was?!

It was a treat to learn more about the Hindi sisters - Hilly and Hannah. Don't forget to follow them on twitter at (see links below) - and stop and say hello when you see them at one of the upcoming Official Twilight Conventions!!

Psst! After the interview, why not take another peek at the parody - and one of my favorites... A Look Behind the Scenes of the Twilight Parody!!


Q. I’ve heard that you’ve both been dancing for several years now, and have even received honors from the Royal Academy of Dance as well as the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London , England .

What inspired each of you to start dancing?

A. We started when we were very young (around age 5). Our parents enrolled us in dance and it just sort of stuck as a great hobby!


Q. With your successes in The Hillywood Show, does that leave much room for any more dancing? Will we have an opportunity to see either of you perform at any upcoming concerts or competitions?

A. Well, we dance as often as possible but touring has kept us very busy! We have performed in concerts and competitions before, but as for now, we are focusing just on "The Hillywood Show."


Q. Hannah – in 2006, you entered the “Miss Nevada ” contest and placed as one of the Top 10 finalists. What was that experience like? Tell us about your favorite part of the competition, as well as what you disliked the most.

A. It was definitely something I enjoyed experiencing! It was a lot of work though...especially the fitness part! The best part was knowing that I was competing for an honorable position and the worst part was getting in shape!


Q. Sometimes, something happens in life that stirs up different emotions for us. A song on the radio can take us back 10 years or a certain scent or smell will make us think of home, or a particular event.

At your site, I noticed that Hilly, your greatest fear is clowns. And Hannah, yours is sharks. I can relate to those both! Would you be able to share with us how those fears came about?

A. HILLY: I've just a lways had this fear of clowns. They seem to happy and it creeps me out! It could possibly have sparked something when I was little and watching "The Little Toaster" and they had a scary clown in it.

HANNAH: I have no idea! Sharks and the ocean have always just scared me. It's like a completely different world down there!

I believe the Twilight Parody took about 2 months to film, and 2 weeks to edit.


Q. When you’re not filming, editing, brainstorming, dancing, or booking your next event – what do you like to do for fun? And to unwind?

A. We love hanging out with our boyfriends, family, dancing, and going on vacation!


Q. When was the last time you took a vacation and what did you do?

A. We went to Disneyland and simply enjoyed ourselves!


Q. Any plans for your next vacation?

A. Hmmm...we would like to go to the UK! That would be amazing!


Q. You’ve filmed several different episodes, from Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek, Back to the Future and Twilight, and most recently, The Dark Knight – just to name a few.

Out of all the parodies you’ve filmed, which one was your favorite and why? Any particular scenes?

A. "Twilight Parody" was definitely our favorite! It was just so much fun and easy goin g!

A particular scene that was really fun to shoot in "Twilight Parody" was the scene between Edward and Bella with the red velvet where he bites her. It was so much fun to direct and shoot!


Q. When filming “The Dark Knight” – which was absolutely wicked!! – how did you prep yourselves to get into character?

Where did those amazing costumes come from, and where was the parody filmed at?

A. The Joker costume was purchased from a company in Japan and Harley Quinn was from a company in Canada. Everything was shot in Las Vegas, NV.


Q. What part of The Dark Knight parody was your favorite and why?

A. There are far too many to choose from! One of our favorites is the rain scene with the Joker and the mask in hand.


Q. How do you choose what you’ll be filming next? Do you have a list of projects you’d like to work on or do you prefer to make your choices along the way?

A. We make our choices along the way. Honestly, whatever sparks our interest!


Q. In the Twilight Parody, you have Jacob Jost starring as Edward Cullen, Drew Lorentz as Jasper Hale and Joseph Lewellyn as Jacob Black. ALL incredible, by the way!

Did you already have all of them in mind when you first started working on the Twilight Parody, or was there more to the casting?

A. We already personally knew all the Cullens. However, the Jacob Black was found through a model agency.


Q. LOVED Joseph as Jacob – but noticed a change for New Moon. What’s the story behind that?

A. The new Jacob Black is Kyle Dayton and we decided to recast because he already had the cropped black hair and was much more muscular for the role.


Q. I read somewhere that Jacob and Drew are your real-life boyfriends – is this just a rumor or is it actually true? True or not – tell us how you guys all met.

A. It's true! We actually all met before we shot for "Twilight Parody!"


Q. And what’s it like working together? Any idiosyncrasies or pet peeves? Or especially… any funny stories you can share with us?

A. It's so much fun working together as sisters. We finish eachother sentences and practically read eachothers minds. We really get along quite well! However, Hilly sometimes will change an idea at the last minute and it can stress Hannah out, but in the end it always works out!


Q. Most of us Twilighters have our favorite parts in the movie… the baseball scene, the fight in the ballet studio, the kiss…

What part of the movie was your favorite and why? How about the Twilight parody?

A. We really enjoy the baseball scene in "Twilight" and we also enjoy the baseball scene in our parody!


Q. To sneak a peek into what inspires or entertains you, please share with us:

What movies have you seen recently that you might call a new favorite? And what was it about the movie that struck you?

A. "Transformers 2" was pretty awesome! Shia is what made the entire film what it was. He's such an inspiring actor!


Q. Tell us about your classic, all-time favorites?

A. "Edward Scissorhands", "Lord of the Rings Saga", "Sweeney Todd"...we have far too many!


Q. Any new favorite books? Or classic, all-time favorite books?

A. "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King", "Twilight", and "Breaking Dawn"


Q. Having had the opportunity to see you guys in action, I think you guys do a superb job of hosting the “Twi-Tour” Conventions put on by Creation Entertainment.

Will you be appearing as hosts at all the upcoming Twi-Tours currently on schedule?

A. Yes, we are touring for the rest of 2009 and 2010!


Q. To give the fans a chance to meet the famous duo, could you let us know of any upcoming events you have booked and where to go for more information?

A. For more information on all our tours, visit our web site (www.TheHillywoodShow.com) and check out all the cities we will be visiting!


Q. And lastly, we’ve seen the sneak preview to your “New Moon” – can’t wait! Any other ideas on the table of what fans might see next from The Hillywood Show?

A. Well, "The Hillywood Show" has its secrets! You never know what the show will bring you next!


The Twilight Parody:



The Twilight Parody - A Look Behind the Scenes:

For more info on The Hillywood Show, check them out at:

WEBSITE: http://www.thehillywoodshow.com
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/JckSparrow
VIMEO: http://www.vimeo.com/thehillywoodshow
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/TheHillywoodShow
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hillywood-Show/47392274582

TWITTER ACCOUNTS:
The Hillywood Show: http://twitter.com/HillywoodShow
Hilly Hindi: http://twitter.com/HillyHindi
Hannah Hindi: http://twitter.com/HannahHindi
Drew Lorentz: http://twitter.com/DrewLorentz
Jacob Jost: http://twitter.com/TheJacobJost

HILLYFANS WEBSITE: http://hillyfans.com/
HILLYFANS TWITTER: http://twitter.com/hillyfans

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The Impromptu Applause

He was running late again, but I assured Mrs. B that he was right behind me. Knowing we wouldn't need the full half hour, and since we were her last parent/teacher conference for the day, it gave us some time for chit-chat.

Including how Numbnuts is so in awe of Einstein, how he talks about him constantly, or how he already knows how to do something because "he learned it from his brother."

Skinny Ass finally arrived 10 minutes later, just as we were about to get started. I'm really glad he was able to make it... it was wonderful to hear Mrs. B go on about Jacob (AKA Numbnuts).

How competitive he is - with himself - and wanting to be at the top of the class. How he never boasts or brags or tries to make anyone feel bad when he scores better than them.

How disappointed he is if he doesn't score 100% on his math tests, and how quickly he turns the pages to the weekly bulletin to see where everyone stands.

How it kills him that there's exactly one other student in the class, a good friend of his, that has got his AR score beat.

***

After reviewing his grades and all his school work, she asks if we have any questions. "I don't think so," I smile at her. "That was actually very thorough, thank you."

After a pause, I remember the Timeline Project he just brought back home. A project that required 10 events in his lifetime, events that we detailed with pictures and notes on a poster board. Where we practiced his oral presentation skills and did role play before he took it to school to submit.

"I can't tell you how excited Jacob was, though, when he brought home the grades he received for his Timeline Project," I said.

Of course, Skinny Ass has to mention the bit of drama we had about it. Since Jacob had lost the instructions, and didn't TELL us he had to have a minimum of 10 events until the morning of. And here we are, scrambling to fit everything in during the morning rush.

But all of this just sends Mrs. B into a dreamlike frenzy. It's as if she's stepped back a few weeks, remembering the day the presentations were given in class...

"Jacob, as always, wants to go first. He had his hand up when I asked for volunteers, but there were a couple of people that got to go ahead of him. Most of them were pretty nervous... reading straight from their notes on the timeline, looking up into the audience only because they suddenly remembered that they're supposed to make eye contact. But Jacob...?"

She throws me a knowing look that makes me chuckle before she continues on. "He was so comfortable up there. He followed the timeline, but totally ad-libbed it. He didn't just read from his notes - he told little anecdotes here and there, including stories about his brothers or his life at home. His eye contact and voice projection was great - he had his audience fully engaged."

Then she pauses to tell us that she specifically did not guide the students to clap their hands for each one's presentation, that they'd simply move on to the next one. Except when Jacob finished up and headed for his seat, you heard the sound of someone, a couple of them, slowly clapping their hands together.

"Soon enough, the ENTIRE class was clapping for him," she revelled. "Because even though they're third graders, even they know the difference between a standard presentation... and a Jacob Presentation."

***

My dumbass felt the sting of tears that threatened my eyes, at the simple joy and pride of this impromptu applause given to my 8 year old son.

This is my Jacob. The same Jacob that sends me love letters when he's happy, and posts hate notes on his door when he wants to be left alone. The same Jacob that surprises me with home made gifts on my desk, wrapped in white copy paper and bundled with scotch tape.

The same Jacob that pulls out the puppet theatre, lays out "programs" on my seat with snacks and beverages while he and The Little Shit put on 7 acts in the living room.

Yes... this is my Jacob. And no, I ain't talking about no werewolf, either ;)

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Vampire Geisha and the Dead Doorman

Totally guilty of rockin' the vamp geisha outfit from earlier this year at the San Francisco Twi-Tour's Vampire Ball. When I met Kellan Lutz. *catches breath*

But HALE. I didn't wear it for (in singsong) Halloween...!

*grins*

Last year, I was the Mad Hatter Hostess and Hubz sported a top hat with white rabbit ears. Cute, right?

So this year, I figured - what the hell - I'mma bust it out for the party. Here's the pic I tweeted that night, but you can't see my fangs. :(

Actually, they're these custom-fit "Love Bites" fangs, and are really subtle. Take a looksie:

Did you see Hubz's picture? Every year, that fucker bitches at me about what costume he's gotta wear that Hallow's Eve. He moans and groans, complains when I apply his make-up... he is just ALL OUT grumpy.

But I think it's all a facade. Coz you should see the way he works his costume. *shakes head* He runs the local full-service hotel, so this costume actually fit him perfectly. And did you see them monster boots?!

Skinny Ass is already tall at 6'5" - guess he just wanted to make sure you wouldn't miss him. ;)

And you know I had to throw one in there of those nefarious monsters of mine ;)

Hope you all had a wicked Halloween!!

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Help us Welcome Gil at England's "New Moon Rising"

Calling all Twilight fans attending the "New Moon Rising" Twilight Convention in England... are you down to have some fun with us???

If you will be attending this event come October 16th - 18th, and you're up for some mischief to be had with the one and only, Gil Birmingham... holla!

The official "Gilstigator" - @lovegardenia - is looking to make sure Gil gets a warm welcome at New Moon Rising, and has cooked up a bit of mischief. But we need YOUR help.

Send me an email at mammadawg [dot] gmail [dot] com for more info. And just for fun, check out the video below for Gil's very first acting gig - courtesy of the Gilstigator:




Don't forget to follow Gil on Twitter - he is uber cool about tweeting with his fans! More contact info below:


GIL BIRMINGHAM'S CONTACT INFO
Official Website
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter

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