Hello and Best Wishes for Closure on 2020, and for Hope & Optimism for 2021...

I usually share a Year's End Wrap-Up, and also let you know I'm holding a good thought the next year to be good for all of us. I toyed with the idea this time of maybe doing it from the POV of someone else, and in a different year. Maybe what Joan Crawford would be experiencing in 1942, or Gary Coleman in 1982.

Instead, I wanted to share my own experiences of this year. Some good, some challenging... we'll call this cathartic.

At a fave oceanside spot, Paradise Cove (Malibu, CA)

With friends JR and Jeremy

It seems so long ago (but just January) when I attended a
'Tribute to James Dean' with other James Dean Fans in Palm Springs, CA. With James Dean's last best friend (Lew Bracker) in attendance, his cousin Marcus Winslow, and others. You can see a video that I had taken 'live' during the event here.

With James Dean's Cousin, Marcus Winslow

Approaching (3) years in Wrightwood, CA:

Staff of Lions Camps (Feb, 2020)

Hard to believe it's now about two weeks away from 3 YEARS of my living in Wrightwood, CA, and being the Camp Manager for Lions Camps at Teresita Pines.

We had groups come to Camp up until March... then our world changed. We've been taking the time we've been given to do improvements on the Camp and enhance the experience for groups to visit when it's possible again...

We had a couple events scheduled originally, to bring people together, to share about Lions Camps at Teresita Pines, and honor individuals and organizations that help the Camp. Given that we couldn't have large gatherings, we engineered ways to bring these events to folks' homes... We had our Virtual Open House with tours of Camp, entertainment, updates, and more... it lives online where it can be viewed (catch me hosting our Virtual Open House here).

We also had a Virtual 25th Anniversary Gala,
celebrating 25 years of Lions Camps at Teresita Pines with performances, throwback visuals, special guests, silent auction, and more. Between early ticket purchases, donations, silent auction, etc, we were able to raise over $50,000 for Camp, and in a much needed time! Thanks to all my friends who donated to our fundraisers this year and attended (somehow)! The Virtual Gala lives online and you can catch that with me hosting (as well), here.

Apart from COVID-19, other tough moments in 2020 (for me, personally):

I had lost my Auntie Robin back in March after a long battle with COPD. Some knew her from when I lived with her in NYC (Staten Island). Lots of fun memories. My mother would call us 'The Attitude Twins' on occasion. 😉 Weathering storms of family dysfunction when I was younger, we were a grounded touchstone for each other. I like to think, as they say, that she's in a better place, and with my mother and sister. Love and light to my Auntie.

Other significant people in my life that had passed on in 2020:

Ron Nicolosi- I worked with Ron on 'Just Shoot Me!' He had become a fellow stand-in on the show. Fun, funny, generous coworker and friend. He will be missed.

Greg Waz- Greg was like a second father to me during my teen years. Between being the father of brothers (Jamison & Matt) who I had spent a good amount of my youth with, and then being with my mother for a long period of time, Greg was a man who was a considerable figure in my history. He was always down to earth and was that cool Dad of friends.

Phil Zeigler- I always said I wanted to adopt Phil as my grandfather. Such a sweet man who had been a part of my short documentary ('Deaners', about the fans of James Dean), and that I spent a good amount of time with on other visits to Fairmount, Indiana.

Also, we had the 'Bobcat Fire' in September-October, which came as close as 3 miles from my home/camp. Pretty rough to pack Murphy the Cat up, along with everything that I think I want/need from all my belongings, and deciding what I'm okay with burning up, if that were to be the case...

I had sadly needed to cancel a trip to Fairmount, Indiana (originally scheduled for May)...

And to end the year, fitting that I'm healing from 2 fractured ribs. Cause... why not? #2020

I am thankful for some bright moments to help balance, however... I got to work as an actor with the filmmaking team of Rogue Division for (3) shorts:

1. Coronamania: A remote film project completed in 48 hours. This is the crazy result... I invite you to W.A.N.K. (Wrestling Association of Northern Kentucky)! I play the announcer...enjoy this quickie diversion here.

2. Count of Treason: In the past handful of years, I've
played a number of characters my younger self wouldn't EVER have imagined: A plane co-pilot, a gang leader out to get Santa, an unsavory boss, a mob boss, a detective, a WWE announcer type, and now a CIA agent. Shot in June (following guidelines)...take a look-see here!

3. Seeker's Bounty: A proof of concept project that gives an idea of a feature film. 'Seeker's Bounty' is a Treasure Hunter / Adventure Story. In this one, I play a man with a military background (who's ruthless and cunning, of course). This one is not available to be seen JUST yet, but another shoot that was fun to be a part of...

I've had Zoom time with good friends...some zoom mafia games, birthday parties, a hang with a legendary crew, and more...

I had an adventure to visit the crash site on the James Dean Death Day of Sept. 30, 1955 (this time, 65 years to the day) to honor the legendary actor. We followed some of the same path that he had taken on that day. To watch a quickie video I put together of the adventure, take a look-see here.

Special Shoutout: I wanted to thank Amy, Haley, and
Joey... for helping me out and putting me and Murphy the Cat up when I was in the throes of needing to evacuate from Camp, as the fire creeped closer, and as it had become mandatory to leave.

Also, to Haley and Joey for volunteering their time and hosting me for a better wifi location (outside of my satellite internet) for the Virtual events that we had for Lions Camps at Teresita Pines- 1) our Virtual Open House and 2) our Virtual 25th Anniversary Gala.

And I SO can't wait to see my good friends and loved
ones in person again. I also have this very specific answer to 'What do you want to do first when COVID is over?' I want to go rollerskating. I really do. Consider yourself invited to go to the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, CA sometime. Coincidentally where this video was shot, and that I watch weekly for inspiration...

P.S. For a super quick (1 minute) glimpse into 2 months of 2020 through my eyes, take a gander at my 1-second everyday video (from early August to early October). See 2 months in just over 1 minute here.

P.P.S. Obsessions/Fascinations lately:

Throwback to 'Tiger King' (Netflix)
'Queens Gambit' (Netflix)
Deep dive, going retro into a rabbit hole with Wham! and George Michael
Marathon of 'Sex and the City' again
Introduction to short-lived 'Daisy of Love' this year
Puzzles
Burning awwwwllll the Bath and Body Works Candles I've hoarded over time
Following Hot fitness gurus on Instagram and not working out

P.P.P.S. Murphy the Cat is still a Cat.

I'm anxious yet hopeful about 2021, and would look forward to time spent with you in it.

Love and Hugs, DG

2019 Look Back

2018 Look Back

2017 Look Back

2016 Look Back

2015 Look Back

2014 Look Back

Caleb

I haven't written about my IMAGINARY Boyfriend Caleb in a while... I thought I had some sort of writer's block.

Or... I realized the honeymoon period had ended.

Or...I felt like I was done with that story.

Or... ;)

I was a bit fascinated that a good number of people that I knew (even a majority of close friends, actually) thought that Caleb was real. A handful knew right off I was story-telling, and had played along quite well. Most messaged me or waited until I saw them in person to ask: 'Is Caleb... real?'

I loved that I got so detailed in my storytelling and having so much fun with it, that it actually threw a good number of those I knew. But, I feel bad that I somehow duped friends and all, even though I was completely transparent and used the word 'Imaginary' every time I posted about My IMAGINARY BOYFRIEND Caleb. My Caleb has not been real. Only 'Imaginary', as I had been saying. Where did this come from? I can chalk it up to:

Living in the mountains of Wrightwood where there's few to no choices in the nearby vicinity for L'amour.
Source of creativity. Gosh, I had such a good time coming up with stories about the things we did, the gifts he bought me, and how he really was my 'ideal'...truly.
After 6+ years of no dating, etc, it was an interesting diversion for make believe out there in the social media world.

Caleb 'Caleb' #Caleb was a combination of different guys... If I actually ended up with a boy cat (again) not long ago (2 years), as a namesake, it was to be named Caleb. Murphy's a whole 'nother story that I'll get to another time...

But 'Caleb' is comprised of 4:

1. A straight guy acquaintance that I'll keep a mystery.
2. Caleb 'BeastMode Cowboy' from Big Brother Season 16 and Survivor Season 32.
3. Cal (Caleb) - James Dean from 'East of Eden', his first feature film.

4. But the majority of my Caleb boyfriend prototype goes to:

Caleb was from Survivor, Season 27 'Blood vs. Water'. He was voted 14th out on Day 29 (out of 39).

He died a tragic death in 2014 at the age of 26, involving a train derailment, while working for the Alabama Warrior railway.

No longer with us, but Caleb was a sweet and generous type. Most on the show were impressed with him as a person, and bewildered that he was enfianced with what most would've considered a villain of the game, Colton.

My heart goes out to him, his family, and the memories he left behind.

Didn't think this would take this turn, did you?

Again, just a prototype for me, and a good example of an ideal BF I would strive for in a relationship.

After 6+ years of no dating, but maybe thinking about someone kinda special, I've been hesitant, but remind myself of these lyrics from Pink's 'Try':

So... the jig is up on my IMAGINARY world (for some). There isn't really a BF of mine named Caleb, and hasn't been. But there is a canvas print of Caleb B. in my home, honoring a real special and sweet guy I had never met and hold a good thought for... RIP Caleb.

And...in the end, may we all either:

1. Find Love, the best match that's suited for us, or

2. Love the ones we're with and appreciate them... , or

3. Both.