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I’m still alive!!!

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated. Over a week ago I was told there was another ‘bug” going around. It start with a sore throat. Since I hate sore throats more than anything and I haven’t been sick in ages a voice in my head said ”You’re gonna get it!” Needless to say, I got it….Yes, it did start with a sore throat and then, a fever which never seemed to go away. I seemed to be fine every other day. This is all I needed a week before my next Romantic Times magazine’s convention in Orlando. I missed several days at the gym. I was in bed all day Easter Sunday. Finally today the fever broke and I was off to the gym.

           Ran into a guy I see every now and then there. He starts the conversation with “Some people were talking about YOU down here on Saturday!” That sentence is always a little unsettling to my ears….I hear that more often than I’d like. He said ” They think you’re really HOT!” I had to ask “Are you sure they were talking about me?” Then, he added “They were talking about the muscley guy with the long blonde hair who always wears a bandanna. It was YOU!” I just gritted my teeth. I was afraid to ask “What did they say?” He went on to say that one of them said “I think he’s a Chippendale’s dancer!” Another one added “He does those covers for women’s books…” At least they got that part right. Although, I was a dancer for 15 years. I had to ask my friend “Who were these people?” Without batting an eye he said “Several OLD guys!” I’m still laughing…..Hey, they did think I was HOT! I’ll take it.
         Getting things together for my convention trip next week. Have to thank Mary Everett who has made me some absolutely phenomenal costumes for all the parties. Her talent with a needle and thread is unbelievable. Thanks to her, I will once again be the best dressed and best tressed guy there if I do say so myself. I will provide my own hair.
         Be on the lookout for my article in the May issue of Romantic Times Book Lover’s magazine. It should be on newsstands now. Let me know what you think.

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Up late…again

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

I’ve had a lot of diet Dr. Pepper, so I may be up all night. Probably a good time to blog, huh? First off, I watched “The Celebrity Apprentice” last night. The ONLY reason to watch is Joan Rivers. I did her show several years ago. She treated me well and is damn funny. Donald Trump is a complete douche bag. Didn’t his last company just go bankrupt….AGAIN? And, this guy is telling people how to run a business. He kicked off or “fired” Kloe Kardashian because she had a DUI. He is a known philanderer and he’s passing moral judgement on her? Excuse me. Then, there’s that hair. You’d think his kids would speak to him. They’re on the show too. Well, his son was wearing a checkered shirt with a tie and bad shoes last night as usual, so I can see why he thinks Daddy Dearest looks like a million bucks. But, you’d think his daughter, Ivanka would open her pouty mouth. She did have a good plastic surgeon.

         On to happier things…My article in the May issue of RT should be out soon. I interviewed the legendary romance novel cover artist, Jon Paul about his new coffee table book, “The Art Of Romance”. It has 120 pages of his best art work going back over 25 years. He even put me on the back cover. Jon Paul considers my ”Her Master And Commander” cover and step-back cover to be some of his best work. High praise considering he’s done over a thousand covers. He is pleased with the article and I’m happy with it too. His book is available through his website www.jonpaulstudios.com
         Nearly unconscious from today’s back and shoulder workout. Trying to get into picture perfect shape for the next RT convention in a few weeks in Orlando. Weighing 194 pounds these days. Most of it muscle, a lot of it hair….
         Lastly, just read where Farrah Fawcett’s cancer has come back and was found in her liver. My father died of liver cancer several years ago. A long and agonizing death. I remember growing up you couldn’t find a magazine cover without Farrah on it. She was the epitome of All American beauty in the 70’s. I bought all her posters. Thye were printed not far from me. I even bought her shampoo. It smelled pretty good as I recall. People always told me I could be her brother, which I took as a compliment. Remember her in your thoughts and prayers…..

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CJ’s Triumphant Return To TV

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Timing is EVERYTHING, especially in my business. Was at the gym today and there also happened to be a TV crew there doing a story abut the place. It so happens to be the #1 gym in Akron. (Note, I didn’t name the gym until they pay me to!) So, they were doing a story. I usually go when it’s not that crowded. There wasn’t a lot of members to choose from for them to film. The new owner who never speaks to me told the cameraman “He’s a fixture down here!” (Kind of like the toilets!) The next thing I knew they were filming me doing my killer ab routine. My friend, Ann who was also there graciously got out of the way sayjng “I want you to get a good shot of HIM!” Bless her. That is a good friend!

         I met Ann later for dinner. It was her birthday yesterday. She looked great and told me she had already seen the piece I was in on the six o’clock news. I didn’t expect that it to be on so quickly. There was a time not so long ago that you couldn’t put the TV on without seeing me doing something outrageous and wearing very little doing it. I stopped telling people I was on ”The Jerry Springer Show” years ago. In MY defense, I was on the LAST show to tape in Ohio before he moved to Chicago. Nobody threw a chair or had slept with their sister on the show I did either.
       So, I guess I will wait for the phone to start ringing in the morning with all the commercial offers. They may need someone to promote “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” margarine. You never know. Friends have been e-mailing saying they saw me on the tube. So, I’m back on TV. I’m just glad it wasn’t on “America’s Most Wanted”!!!!

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Cathardic at times……

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Time waits for no man and Ol’ CJ is no exception. I went to a birthday party on Friday for a very good friend of mine. We have sort of drifted apart in the past few years and gone our separate ways. But, back in the day we were a force to be reckoned with. He was the buff, Italian Stallion and I was…well, the blonde guy. You would never see him without seeing…well, the blonde guy. And, try to find a workout partner who would be there on time for years and could lift the same weight as me. NEVER happens. My best bud Dave was turning…let’s just say the age ended in a ZERO. I arrived late to the surprise party. I saw him crossing the street going to the restaurant as I was looking for a &^^%%$# parking space. There is NO parking in downtown Akron! Needless to say, I missed the “surprise”. But, then so did most of the other guests who arrived LATER than I did. I will say that he didn’t look younger than I did. Whew!

         We seemed to pick up right where we left off in our 25 year friendship. (Did we meet in kindergarten?) Then, the conversation turned UGLY when he talked about US getting OLD. I did have to interrupt and say “Speak for yourself!” Being my former workout partner he asked “Have you noticed how it’s MANDATORY that we have to do cardio at the gym now?” I concurred. He poked my stomach and noticed there was no “give” in the abdominal region. He looked at me and said “YOU F-CKER!!!” We both laughed like hell. That was the best compliment I’ve gotten in a long time. I spent the rest of the party drinking his birthday shots. Not sure when he stopped drinking. He just kept passing them to me and I just kept drinking them. For the record, I woke up the next morning hang-over free!
          March and April seem to BIG birthday months. Everyone I know seems to be turning a year older. I have lost count of how many cards I have sent out this week alone. Got a voicemail today from yet another friend who sarcastically reminded me that his birthday was “forgotten” by his drinking buddies, ME being one. I hated to send the e-mail response saying that he must have forgotten MY last birthday party that I planned MYSELF! I also had to remind him of the $30 worth of balloons that I schlepped down the street for decorations so it would look like a birthday party and not just a bunch of drunks standing around drinking. I DID that all MYSELF. I wasn’t about to boo-hoo it up because he didn’t get a &^%$# party. I sent him a card. Called twice and sent 2 birthday e-mails. Boy, suck it up!
             Off to the mail box with more cards. 3 more birthdays this week. Having dinner with my friend, Ann on Wed. Her birthday is tomorrow. My grandmother turns 97 April 8! Don’t forget to send her a card!

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Look at me…I’m a Blog Virgin!

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

This is my first time ever “blogging”. I guess the makes me a “Blog Virgin”. So, when you remember this blog…and YOU WILL. Be kind.

            Take this as a warning or a “don’t let this happen to YOU” message. Being the “computer Illiterate” that I am ( I can barely e-mail!) this should really come as no surprise. Recently I was sent a e-mail notice from what claimed to be my server, AOL. They said they were “updating” my billing info. I didn’t respond. A few days later I received a “final notice” e-mail again from what I thought was AOL. I looked everywhere for a phone number online or a e-mail address to contact someone at my server. I thought this e-mail night be bogus. They wanted my credit card info + a few other things. Having no luck with AOL and the e-mail DID look authentic, I decided to roll the dice and sent them the info.(It was also 2:30 in the morning when I sent it too!) I DID think it was strange that they asked for my credit card pin number which they didn’t need for billing. For some odd reason and I still don’t know WHY I sent them the pin number from another card and even that one wasn’t correct. Like I said it was 2:30 AM!!! I figured ALL my credit card info was still the same and the only reason they would need my pin # was to withdraw money and I was SURE they would NEVER do that! I also thought if there was a problem they could try calling ME for a change!
          A few days later I was at the checkout line at Wal-Mart and my credit card was denied. I told the cashier to run it through again because it was probably just wearing out from abuse. She did…SEVERAL times. All the while the line behind was getting longer and longer. There I was looking like white trash in Wal-Mart trying to charge on a bad card. I handed the girl another card and was on my way. She didn’t even look at it, but that’s another blog story….
         When I got home I called the credit card company to tell them I thought I needed a new card. The woman told me that my card was fine, but they did notice some “odd” charges being made so the card was BLOCKED. Turns out somebody had tried to make a cash withdrawal with my bogus pin number and then tried to make a charge for the same amount, $229.00! Thank God I was smart(?) enough not to give them the right pin number! There was also another charge made to FRANCE! I assured the woman from the card company that I wasn’t doing any cash withdrawls and people really should be wiring ME money NOT the other way around! My account on that card was closed and I was issued a new one.
        Then, I had to find someone at AOL to report this to. An hour or so later I was “instant messaging” a “live tech”. It took me that long to locate ANYONE to help me at AOL!!! I explained my dilemma to my tech “Sigfreid” or whatever he was calling himself. He asked me to send him the e-mail that I had received that started this whole mess. Within in seconds he said I had been SCAMMED! Had I been able to get in touch with someone easier at AOL this all could have been avoided. “Sigfreid” now tells me I need to REPORT this. I e-mailed back “Isn’t that what I just did?!!!!” The exclamation points were flowing fast and furious at this now. He e-mails back “You sound upset….” I replied “What the hell am I doing with YOU if you’re telling me to report it after I just reported it to YOU!!!!!! What are they paying YOU for?!!!” Magically and mysteriously he vanished and it said “session terminated” Odd….I got a e-mail seconds later from ol’ Sig saying he didn’t know WHY were cut off. OK, whatever….
        Long story longer….The SOB’s didn’t get any money out of me and I have learned a valuable lesson. I must have a Guardian angel watching out for me out there someplace….BEWARE!
         Went to the hairdresser’s last week. I took a copy of the artist, Jon Paul’s book “The Art Of Romance” that features me on the back cover + a few pages inside to show my hairdresser, Rayne.ALL the women at the salon swarmed around me like bees to catch a gander at the book of JP’s best cover art. They all loved it. One woman said she already had one of the book covers as a screensaver. The odd thing was later one of the hairdressers came over and asked me how I felt about “one-night stands”. She smiled and said “Me first, then Carol!” I guess they are looking at me in a different light now… The book is available at www.jonpaulstudios.com
      

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My Trailer

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Just wanted to give everyone a sneak peek at my new trailer!

CJ

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Monday, March 2nd, 2009

A new blog post from CJ is coming soon!!!!!

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