Year in Review: Golden Rules 2017

It is that time of year: time for the Year in Review, a timeless tradition.  As with each of The Red Balloon's Review, we need to reflect on some prior Golden Rules.

If you need to review Golden Rules 1 and 2 then go here:

http://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-in-review.html

In case you need a refresher of Golden Rules 3 and 4 then follow this link:

http://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2014/12/year-in-reflection-2014.html

And, if you need to, you can find Golden Rules 5, 6, and 7 here:

http://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2015/12/year-in-review-2015.html

Okay now that you have completed your time travel experience you are ready to return your seats to the upright position and venture to the future:

Golden Rule #8: The future is now, "Grasp your dreams as if it had handles, for you're the only one who can turn it around." Remember that dreams are essential and that you are the one to take charge and make things happen!

Golden Rule #9: "Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Those words are not The Red Balloon's but rather Albert Einstein. He made this quote many years ago, but it is one that rings true in present-day. There are going to be barriers and obstacles in the way of dreams so as always be positive, be prepared, and be proactive...gosh that sounds like it could be another Golden Rule!

Here's to a new year, 2018, a year full of dreams taking flight!

Sincerely,

The Red Balloon   

Year in Review 2015

It's that time again. And by that time I mean "Time for the Year in Review."
Time to look back and ponticate and gesticulate and use other big words that haven't been used for at least the past 365 and a quarter days. Now for the good stuff:

In case you need a refresher of Golden Rules 3 and 4 then follow this link:
http://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2014/12/year-in-reflection-2014.html

If you need to review Golden Rules 1 and 2 then go here:
http://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-in-review.html

Okay...now this is beginning to feel like a choose your adventure book...
hmmm..perhaps more on that later.

Golden Rule #5: If it's 70 degrees in New England in December on the 25th
than can Winter really be called Winter? Okay we'll this may not seem 
like a rule per se it is something to pontificate. The real rule is: Remember that
it is only time that matters.

Golden Rule #6: Facere non deflate. I know you're wondering 
why this Golden Rule is written in Latin. 
Allow me to translate: Do Not Deflate. 
I don't think any further translation is necessary.

Golden Rule #7: "Even walls fall down."
And with that said, "Some days are diamonds
                                 Some days are rocks
                                 Some doors are open
                                 Some roads are blocked."

Essential Rules to live by.

So there are your Golden Rules. Go forth and Be Brillant!

 

Year in Reflection: 2014

I've been writing this Year in Reflection in my head for quite a while now. And now we arrive at the time to finally actually type it all out. I have to admit that it was easier whilst it was "in my mind."

But alas, I do have the Golden Rules, which I started during last year's Year in Review and would like to now continue the same time honored tradition. [To review the first two Golden Rules you can always go here: http://theredballoonreport.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-in-review.html]

The following are the lessons that we all learned this year along the harsh road called "life."
Here they are ~
Golden Rule #3: Do Not Enter an Elevator with Solange.
I think that Golden Rule #3 doesn't really need any explication.
I saw Solange in concert back in 2013 and I had the foresight even then to take the escalator. What can I say, I've always been ahead of my times.

Golden Rule #4: Always be prepared.
For this one The Red Balloon need sto update an old biblical message. In the biblical message the saying is that if the man had known the hour at which the burglar was coming, he would not have left his home to be broken into. So that of course is still relevant today. However, the updated message reads: if you know the hour at which you are going to meet said celebrity you put on something nice, maybe get your hair done and Voila! But no, the hour at which you will meet said celebrity just had to be a big surprise : )

Now, this year The Red Balloon is thankful for:
1) Family and Friends. This is so clearly numero uno.

2) Anniversaries: For whatever reason The Red Balloon has been getting a ton more anniversary cards in the mail then ever before. Just the other day, a card from Macy's arrived that read, "Happy Anniversary!" It was particularly surprisingly to know they've been keeping track of the day The Red Balloon started spending oodles of money there. In any event, it's always nice to be recognized.

3) The fact that The Red Balloon's camera died two seconds after meeting Jake Gyllenhaal. True story.
Seriously how else would The Red Balloon have been able to capture this gem:

Words of wisdom gained that day: You can't yell, "Jake Gyllenhaal" in a crowded theater...perhaps another update of an old phrase.

What The Red Balloon is looking forward to in 2015:
1) New Year's Eve and the morning of January 1st celebration on a boat. The Red Balloon can't actually recall the last time seeing midnight fireworks live and being able to see them on a boat is well...just an incredible way to kick off 2015.

2) The Second Interview. of all the films that opened this month, the one that The Red Balloon didn't see was: The Interview. But, let's face it, what does Hollywood do best: make sequels. You can bet they'll be a "Second Interview." And, as with all second interviews, everyone will ask the same question, "How did they [Seth Rogen and James Franco] get a SECOND interview????"
Answer: Absolutely no idea. We're still questioning how they got a FIRST!
And, more importantly, they'll play both films together in one bundle so for everyone who didn't get to see the first film [cue: all of North Korea] we'll be able to easily catch up!

3) More quality time writing; really looking forward to 2015 being the year for that.

4) More fun. This one needs no explanation folks.

Here 's to an amazing 2015! Feel free to leave a comment on The Red Balloon with what you are looking forward to in the new year.

Stay tuned for more adventures in the new year...til then The Red Balloon wishes you a year full of wonderful memories, good health, and more happiness than can be contained in 365.245 days!

Year in Review

Where to begin? It was quite the year. Many, many amazing things happened. Many feats of strengths demonstrated, much happened which no one would have ever thought would have happened. 2013 was the year when after decades and eons of anticipation, we all found out what it was the fox actually says (though I have to admit that I still have absolutely utterly no idea what it is a fox says.) It was also the year that Sara Bareilles wrote a song named after The Red Balloon's Amaryllis. We're still waiting for her to win an award for that great feat!

A lot of stuff happened. Sifting through it all, The Red Balloon has summated two valuable tokens to take with you at the culmination of the year 2013 and the beginning of 2014 (okay maybe these gems have actually been percolating for many years and it's just now that I'm actually writing them for all of history but in any event take note- no really please get out a pen and paper, you will actually use these pearls of wisdom at some point in time):

Golden Rule #1: Try at all possible costs to avoid Jury Duty (the only thing The Red Balloon can actually liken it to is somewhere below Dante's circle #7) hmmm...interestingly enough The Red Balloon was "Juror Number #7"....coincidence??? I think not.

Golden Rule #2: Do not stop and ask for directions while in Chinatown (The Red Balloon will not even going to elaborate on that one as we've said too much already.)

So, throughout this coming year, please keep the Golden Rules in your back pocket or your glove compartment or whereever you wish. Go and travel forth and find new adventures, take new paths, grow in new and exciting ways. Discover a new talent you never knew you had. Be bold and brave and see where life takes you. Whatever you do, just don't get lost in Chinatown!

Here's to a very happy, healthy, and unforgettable 2014! As an addendum, remember that the new year is all about resolutions. The Red Balloon resolves to write more in the new year. We're sincerely going to put forth a truly grandiose, Herculean effort.